Demolition begins as Kawaiahao Church prepares for reburial of ancestral remains

HONOLULU — Kawaiaha’o Church is preparing to rebury hundreds of skeletal remains that were dug up during a construction project 16 years ago, with demolition work beginning Tuesday.

Heavy equipment will start demolishing concrete footings that were part of an elevator and restroom structure. The church says no ‘iwi were found in that specific area where the demolition will take place.

The work addresses a massive pit next to the historic downtown church that has caused deep pain for the congregation and Hawaiian community for years.

Construction project unearthed ancestral bones

When construction for a multipurpose center started in 2009, more than 630 ‘iwi kupuna — ancestral bones — became unearthed. The burial finds range from individual fragments to full remains. The ‘iwi are believ