(AP) — The state of Hawaii has received criticism for its handling of Native Hawaiian burials from members of burial councils who have called on the Legislature to establish a working group to draw up reforms. Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that Oahu Island Burial Council Chairwoman Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu says the State Historic Preservation Division failed to help adequately staff island burial councils and enforce burial site violations. Wong-Kalu also says state officials have not provided staff training or developed an inventory of Native Hawaiian burial sites. Burial councils oversee whether previously identified sites will be preserved in place or relocated, while inadvertent discoveries fall to the historic preservation division.

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(Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu AP Photo /Audrey McAvoy)