LIHU'E, Hawai'i — More than a dozen protesters on Kaua'i halted construction of a house located on property where about 30 ancient Hawaiian burial sites have been discovered.

At least eight protesters, who anticipated being arrested, linked themselves together using segments of PVC pipe Thursday, but no arrests were made.

Police waited out the protesters, who left after 10 hours, vowing to return next week. Construction workers left the area earlier at the request of police in an apparent effort to avoid confrontation.

After years of legal challenges and community opposition, state and local authorities have given property owner and California contractor Joseph Brescia permission to build the house.

One protester, Andre Perez of O'ahu, called on Gov. Linda Lingle to intervene.

"By any standard, by any culture or ethnic group, this is just wrong," Perez said. "From a human perspective, this is just wrong."

As recently as June 25, Kaua'i County Police Chief Darryl Perry, citing a law protecting Hawaiian burial grounds, was at the site, turning away workers about to start construction.

Walton Hong, an attorney for Brescia, said at the time that he would submit a burial plan with the State Historic Preservation Division.

In December, some 30 burials were discovered on the property during an archaeological survey. The Kaua'i Island Burial Council determined in April that the sites must be left in place in order for construction to begin.

Brescia has been trying to build a home on the site since 2001.

Still in the early stages of development, the site has close to 30 concrete posts positioned around numerous markings noting the location of iwi, or Hawaiian remains.

The protesters, who came from around the state, said they want construction halted and the iwi honored with a heiau, or shrine. Building around the graves, or moving them would constitute be desecration, they said.

"If they can do this here, they can do this on all Hawaiian burial sites throughout the Hawaiian Islands," Hanalei Colleado of Maui said.