12 Dec 2017

Repatriation of native Hawaiian human remains raises hope

From , 6:03 am on 12 December 2017

It's hoped more indigenous artefacts will be returned to Hawaii after century old human remains were repatriated in October.

The remains had been stolen from burial caves between 1896 and 1902 and sold to the Museum of Ethnology in Dresden, Germany.

The chief executive of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamana'opono Crabbe, says the repatriation followed 25 years of talks and was the first time the museum had returned indigenous artefacts.

Mr Crabbe told Sara Vui-Talitu the return of three iwi po'o, or skulls, and an alalo, or jawbone, has given hope to other native groups.

Iwi kūpuna returning home from Germany after more than a century

Iwi kūpuna returning home from Germany after more than a century Photo: Mo.Zaboli / Office of Hawaiian Affairs