MAUNA KEA, Hawaii – Hawaiʻi Island police have confirmed the remains found by a Native Hawaiian cultural hiking group on Tuesday are human.
The group, Huaka’i I Na ‘Aina Mauna, located the human remains during a huaka’i near the summit of Mauna Kea, and in a media release sent to Big Island Video News on Thursday, they hypothesized the find may resolve the mystery of a male hiker who has been missing since 2007.
The hiking group was in the midst of a pilgrimmage about a half mile from the 13,000 foot elevation Lake Wai’au when they came across the bones scattered over an extended area. A physician among the group, Dr. Baron Kaho’ola Ching, M.D., realized the bones were not from animals known to frequent the area.
The group says a collar bone and pelvic bone was found, which included an artificial hip replacement.
From Thursdy’s Huaka’i I Na ‘Aina Mauna media release:
| When the group realized it was human remains, a Hawaiian elegy (uwe) prayer was performed for the deceased. There is hope among the Hawaiian cultural practitioners that there will eventually be a proper burial for the person and peace and closure for the family. A group member made calls notifying the authorities, who will visit the site on Friday, August 2. The remains were left undisturbed as the group continued with their huaka’i, with deeper reverence for Mauna a Wakea. The group will continue its activities on the mountain through Saturday, August 3. |
On Friday, police conducted a check of the area with the assistance of officers from the State Department of Land and Natural Resources and a ranger from the Office of Mauna Kea Management. They located the human remains. Detectives are now conducting checks to determine identity of the remains.
by Big Island Video News
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STORY SUMMARY
MAUNA KEA, Hawaii – Hawaiʻi Island police have confirmed the remains found by a Native Hawaiian cultural hiking group on Tuesday are human. The group, Huaka’i I Na ‘Aina Mauna, located the human remains during a huaka’i near the summit of Mauna Kea, and in a media release sent to Big Island Video News on […]