Tourists at Hawaii fall on I am kūpuna—the bones of the ancestors of the native Hawaiians – when they explore beaches like the Puamana Beach Park and climb the coastal and forest cliffs where these remains were buried. A tradition for at least two millenniaThese burial sites, which also include sand dunes, are recognized as sacred places for their descendants.
In ʻŌlelo Hawaii (Hawaiian language), “the word for ‘bury’ and the word for ‘plant’ — it’s not strange that they’re the same word,” says Mehanaokalā Hind, a senior advisor at the University of Hawaii. Native Hawaiian Development Council“We will replant (the ancestors) in the spaces that will allow them to return to Papa, to return to Haumea,” she adds, referring to two Hawaiian goddesses.
Beaches on MauiHawaii Island and Moloka'i are popular with curious visitors digging in their dunes, and Hawaii Island, O'ahu and Kaua'i are known for their burial caves.
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Mana Kaleilani Cáceres is a lawyer with Hui Iwi Kuamo'oan organization that repatriates and buries During his six years with the O'ahu Burial Council, he posted countless social media posts showing tourists interacting with Hawaiian ancestral remains.
“It’s a problem that has been around for years,” Cáceres says. “I see it happening more and more frequently with photos and videos online.”
Disruptions of I am kūpuna Phenomena that have been occurring for over a century – and sometimes deliberately. Europeans The first bones were looted from the islands to be probed and displayed. Many of them are still on display in museums around the world.
Local organizations have made it their own kuleana (responsibility) to repair these wrongs, with The Hawaiian Church of Hawaiʻi Nei and Hui Iwi Kuamoʻo protecting the bones. Meanwhile, The Kanaka Climbers educates nature lovers on how to act as ethical guests. Here's what you need to know to visit the Hawaiian Islands more respectfully.
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Hike state-managed trails, like the Manoa Falls Trail on O'ahu
Travelers can avoid encounters with I am kūpuna and follow state-managed trails that allow tourists to ethically access the great outdoors. Unofficial and illegal trails found on websites like AllTrails can lead them to unexpected places.
At Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside Park on the island of O'ahu, Cáceres has seen tourists creating their own hiking trails. “You can see it's a big problem,” he said.
Kānaka Climbers has pointed out certain places where climbers should not venture as they could be potential burial sites. “If locals advise you not to go to certain places, listen to them,” Hind advises.
To show hoihi (respect) if you are walking a historic trail
A number of historical trails are open to the public and remain important to the Kānaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiians). Some can lead hikers past the rocks that once formed Heiauancient temples that should be treated with the same reverence as churches. Others pass them by sacred pohaku (rock). Yet bad behavior occurs in these spiritual spaces.
ʻIhilani Chu of the Hawaiian Church of Hawaiʻi Nei has heard stories of heiau desecration, including one man who allegedly urinated on one. Skye Kolealani Razon-Olds started her nonprofit, Kānaka Climbers, to educate the outdoor recreation community about Hawaiian history and culture after seeing climbers scaling a pōhaku that is also a petroglyph site in South Oʻahu.
Inasmuch as keiki (as a child), “this is where my grandmother would take us to tell us stories about the demigods that lived in the area,” Razon-Olds says. “It’s a great place to remember that Hawaiian culture is still alive and well, and our community is still very active.”
Travelers should research these trails in advance and know what is expected of visitors.
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Volunteer with the Mālama Hawaiʻi program
THE Mālama Hawaiʻi Program offers tourists the opportunity to participate in Hawaiian culture in a meaningful way. Volunteers can clean up the coasts of Kaua'i, plant native species at a Maui wildlife sanctuary, and work outdoors on a Hawaii Island farm near Mauna Kea. As a bonus, volunteers receive discounts at select hotels—and sometimes a free night—for their efforts.
“The impact of regenerative tourism is a softer footprint on our 'āina (land), but also a positive economic impact on Hawaiian families,” says Hind of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.
Using sustainable tour operators
Avoid published guides that use buzzwords like “secret spaces,” which “trend toward the exotic,” Hind warns. She explains that these terms use the exotic to lure tourists to areas of the islands that are kept private for good reason. The end result of the tour could be “disrespectful or dangerous,” Hind says.
Instead, the Hawaii Sustainable Tourism Association (STAH) recommends a list of eco-friendly tour operators on O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i and the island of Hawaii to accompany travelers to the parks and attractions. Examples include Holo Holo Charters on Kaua'i and Valley Isle Excursions on Maui.
Visitors can still hike and bike on land or snorkel and scuba dive in the sea, but they will follow local guides who are certified for sustainability by the STAH. These tour companies receive the seal of approval from the Sustainable Tour Operator Certification Programwhich requires hours of training, an audit and the appointment of a sustainable development coordinator.
Each year, these operators must recertify to ensure they are dedicated to educating about Hawaiian culture, protecting the islands' natural resources, and more.
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Do not geotag hidden treasures, including burial caves
Tourists who discover little-known places on the islands are advised not to share them on social media, which often leads to overcrowding.
“With the rise of social media, it’s become easier and easier for people to go to these places,” says Razon-Olds of Kānaka Climbers. “It’s become the new place that everyone’s looking for, and it’s kind of attracting the wrong people.”
Cáceres, of Hui Iwi Kuamoʻo, remembers sealing a burial cave with cement to protect the bones inside. Months later, he saw the entrance to the cave geolocated on social networks.
Photos of burial caves and I am kūpuna are never allowed. This is Capu Even Hawaiians are not allowed to enter the caves. “It's for their protection,” said Kahu Pohaleo Loko'olu Quintero, a priest with the Hawaiian Church of Hawai'i Nei.
Instead, visitors who come through I am kūpuna During their stay on the islands, they must call the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Law Enforcement.
By making small changes to their itineraries, tourists can still enjoy the Hawaiian lands while respecting and preserving native traditions to ensure they continue for generations.
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Author Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton identifies as Kanaka ʻŌiwi.