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Documents hint at
plans for cave artifacts

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By Burl Burlingame
Star-Bulletin

Removal of valuable Hawaiian artifacts from Bishop Museum late in February has been described by the museum as a case of bureaucratic oversight on its part and overzealousness on the part of Hui Malama, the Hawaiian group that misled the museum into handing over the artifacts.

But federal financial documents show that Hui Malama planned to remove the artifacts many months in advance, and even targeted the end of February.

In a financial progress report to the Department of Health and Human Services through Sept. 29, 1999, Hui Malama po'o (president) Kunani Nihipali discussed the group's accomplishments of the previous year, noting that Forbes Cave iwi kupuna -- mummified remains -- had been repatriated to Hui Malama for reinterment in Kawaihae Cave on the Big Island.

The report added that the Forbes Cave moe pu -- funerary objects -- had been retained at Bishop Museum due to balking by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (which it misidentifies as the Hawaiian Homes Commission).

"The consultation process continues in this case as of the time of this writing," continues the document signed by Nihipali. "However, Hui Malama is confident that by February, 2000, the moe pu will be repatriated to Hawaii island for reunification with the iwi kupuna they belong to."

Because Hui Malama officials refused to explain their actions to the press, the document also gives clues to their motives in hiding the artifacts: "Culturally, when objects are placed with iwi kupuna, the relationship is considered eternally binding. Nothing can interfere with this bond, especially not the curiosity of the living."

Such progress reports are required by federal agencies that have funded operational grants to organizations such as Hui Malama, and are public record.

"I'm surprised to hear this. This is very interesting," said Mel Kalahiki of the Big Island's Na Papa Kanaka o Pu'uokohola Heiau, one of the newly approved claimant groups, when told of the document.

"Now it doesn't make any sense, what (Hui Malama) claimed before," he said. "It looks like they planned to take the cultural objects for a long time, and by themselves. I'm disappointed, because I'd have hoped that the entire Hawaiian community could have been involved in the repatriation."

Hui Malama was one of four original claimants for the "Forbes Cave" funerary objects, or moe pu, and had already been loaned mummified Hawaiian remains -- iwi kupuna -- from Bishop Museum's collection for future repatriation. The artifacts included wooden sculptures estimated to be worth millions of dollars to collectors.

Bishop Museum gave the artifacts to Hui Malama in late February this year, and the artifacts disappeared. The museum later admitted it had been fooled by Hui Malama into believing all claimants agreed to take and hide the items.

Due to a subsequent public and professional outcry, Bishop Museum revised its rules under the 1990 Native American Graves and Repatriation Act and has accepted seven new claimant groups related to the Forbes Cave artifacts, bringing the total to 11.

"Bishop Museum has no reaction to any of this, because we had no idea documents like this existed," said museum spokeswoman Ruth Ann Becker. "But we have apologized before for being misled by Hui Malama."

Although all claimant groups were supposed to file opinions by last Friday on demanding the return of the the Forbes cave artifacts, several had not yet done so, said Becker.

The Bishop Museum board of directors has scheduled discussion of Forbes Cave artifacts recovery during its monthly meeting tonight.