Communications Pacific executive Puaalaokalani Aiu has been named administrator of the state Historic Preservation Division, the agency with responsibility for overseeing the treatment of archeological sites and Hawaiian burials on land slated for development.

Aiu's appointment has stirred some concern because she worked on Communications Pacific accounts linked to the development of Wal-Mart and the Ward Village Shops projects in Kaka'ako, which both involved controversies over burials.

The developers on both projects were Communications Pacific clients, and Aiu said her work for the firm included facilitating discussions with descendants of the people buried at both sites.

Aiu said she has not worked on the Ward Village project for a year, but said she would recuse herself from any action in connection with that project to allow a deputy to handle it to avoid any conflict of interest.

Construction is finished on the Wal-Mart project, but iwi that were disturbed during construction have not been reburied because of ongoing legal proceedings. Aiu said she doesn't know what action she might be be expected to take as head of Historic Preservation in connection with that case, but "I'm not going to put myself in a position of being in a conflict of interest."

Before she joined Communications Pacific in 2004, Aiu was a senior analyst in the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs, where she said she reviewed environmental reports and development proposals from the perspective of OHA's mission to better the state of the Native Hawaiian people.

She said she brought that experience with her to Communications Pacific, and "whenever we worked for developers in a project, it was to bring dependents to the table early on."

A total of 42 sets of remains were found at the Wal-Mart site after construction began in late 2002, and the organization Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei staged protests at the site.

Hui Malama also sued, accusing Wal-Mart and officials from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources of violating the public trust and manipulating and violating state law designed to protect and preserve of human remains.

Recognized cultural descendants of remains found in the Ward Villages area also sued, alleging that developer General Growth Properties and the State Historic Preservation Division dealt improperly with the human remains found on that site.

'IT'S A REAL CONCERN'

About 35 sets of remains have been removed and housed in an air-conditioned trailer nearby on the construction site.

Moses Haia, staff attorney for the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. and lead attorney in lawsuits filed over the treatment of remains at both the Wal-Mart and Ward Villages sites, wondered how Aiu's Communications Pacific work and her relationships with developers might affect her decisions as administrator.

"It's a real concern," he said. "We are going to be very vigilant, and we will watch closely how things proceed with her at the helm."

William Aila, a member of Hui Malama, said Aiu is well-versed in historic preservation issues, and said he believes she will do "a great job."

"I've known Pua for a long time, and we haven't always agreed on every issue, but she's fair," Aila said.

Aiu is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools and Pomona College, and has a doctorate in communications from the University of Massachusetts.

She is vice president of Communications Pacific in the company's community-building practice, where she managed communications accounts that often involved burial treatment, historic preservation and cultural sensitivities, according to the statement from DLNR.

SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED

Aiu was recommended for the job by a search committee established by Laura H. Thielen, chairman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, after the resignation last year of embattled division administrator Melanie Chinen.

Chinen was publicly criticized by Hawaiians concerned with burials and by archaeologists who argued the agency was not functioning properly under her leadership.

In addition to Aiu's appointment, Thielen yesterday also announced the appointment of Nancy McMahon, a 20-year veteran of the DLNR, as the division archaeology and historic preservation manager.

"The mission of the State Historic Preservation Division is both broad and important. Therefore, we believe a team approach would best provide the leadership and expertise needed to efficiently and effectively carry out the vital goal of protecting and enhancing our historic and cultural resources," Thielen said in a written statement announcing the appointments.

"We are proud to have selected two remarkable women who have the combined abilities to help the State Historic Preservation Division to realize its full potential."

Aiu will start on May 12. McMahon, who has been serving as acting administrator for the division since December, will continue to run the division until then.