What's Being Discussed

The O'ahu Island Burial Council will meet on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM at the DLNR Kalanimoku Building, Board Room #132, 1151 Punchbowl St., Honolulu. The council oversees the treatment and protection of Native Hawaiian burial sites. Key topics include:

• Approval of meeting minutes from the June 10, 2026 regular and closed sessions.
• Inadvertent discoveries of Native Hawaiian skeletal remains at over a dozen locations across O'ahu, including sites in Kailua, Waikīkī, Kaka'ako, Wai'anae, Mākaha, the North Shore, and Ewa. These discoveries occurred during construction, development, and public infrastructure projects.
• Notable sites include a Kamehameha Highway drainage project near Laniākea, developments in Kaka'ako (formerly Howard Hughes Corporation projects), Jefferson Elementary School, and Mauna Lahilahi Beach Park.
• A communication from the Department of the Navy regarding demolition and construction of a berthing wharf at Ford Island.
• A letter from Allen County Museum dated May 12, 2026 (content not fully provided).

Decisions Expected

• Votes to approve previous meeting minutes.
• Potential decisions on how to handle each inadvertent discovery, which may include determinations about preservation, reburial, or further consultation.

Who Should Pay Attention

• Native Hawaiian communities and cultural practitioners with ties to affected areas.
• Property developers and construction companies working at or near the listed sites.
• Residents in Kailua, Waikīkī, Kaka'ako, Wai'anae, and other affected neighborhoods.
• Anyone interested in the protection of Native Hawaiian burial sites on O'ahu.