ABSTRACT

Contemporary Native Hawaiians seeking to repatriate iwi ku-puna (ancestral human skeletal remains) and moepu-(funerary objects) liken our efforts to the seafaring legacy left by our ancestors. Repatriation journeys were long and filled with what seem like insurmountable obstacles. Nonetheless, we navigated through these challenges using cultural values and practices as a guide. These efforts led to the successful return of many iwi ku-puna and moepu-. By undertaking these journeys and overcoming the numerous challenges, we gained in-depth insight into our cultural values and ourselves. In addition, we came to realize certain difficult truths about the devastating toll that colonization has taken on our cultural identity.