Air Force seeks home
for Hawaiian remains

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com

Nine bones and bone fragments, believed to be those of prehistoric indigenous Hawaiians, have been uncovered during the past several years at Bellows Air Force Station and Hickam Air Force Base. The Air Force is trying to find anyone who believes the remains may belong to ancestors.

Valerie Curtis, acting archaeologist at Hickam, said seven of the bones were uncovered at Bellows -- three during an ordnance sweep, one by a visitor walking along the beach, and three during a preliminary survey to replace cabins there.

The largest of the nine bones -- a femur, or thigh bone -- was found on the airfield at Hickam with another bone by workmen who were digging a post hole.

Curtis said since the bones have never been claimed, the Air Force, under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990, is required to give public notice. The first notice was published in Honolulu newspapers yesterday.

The Air Force also contacted several organizations including the Oahu Island Burial Council, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawaii Nei.

The Air Force will issue another legal notice next week in Honolulu newspapers, as required by the federal law. If the bones are not claimed within 30 days of the second notice, Hui Malama has agreed to take custody of them.

Although uncovering skeletal remains is not a common occurrence, Curtis said bones have been found all over Oahu, and for that reason care is taken whenever the Air Force does excavation work. For instance, an archaeologist was present during the ordnance sweep at Bellows when the bone fragments were found there, Curtis said.