HGTV’s ‘Renovation Aloha’ Faces Legal Action Over Filming at Native Hawaiian Burial Site
HGTV’s Renovation Aloha has become embroiled in a legal controversy surrounding its recent episode.
During the episode titled “Bones on the Big Island,” cameras captured the unsettling discovery of human bones at a property in Hilo. The remains, which are considered sacred by Native Hawaiians, should not have been broadcast according to Hawaii state law, as indicated by the state attorney general.
Host Kamohai Kalama reacted with shock, stating, “Holy crap, there’s bones back here,” as the footage unfolded. The filming continued, and preview clips related to the discovery were shared on social media.
In response to the incident, the Hawaii Attorney General’s office sought a temporary restraining order last week to halt the distribution of the footage. Despite these efforts, the episode had already aired. Court documents obtained by Honolulu Civil Beat reveal that those named in the complaint, filed on April 14 in Hawaii’s Third Circuit, include hosts Kamohai and Trysten Kalama, as well as HGTV, producer Nathan Fields, and Discovery Inc.
Deputy Attorney General Miranda Steed articulated the significant repercussions of broadcasting such footage, stating, “The broadcast of footage depicting iwi kūpuna on national television causes profound and irreparable harm to the Native Hawaiian community, to the State’s interest in protecting its cultural resources, and to the dignity and sanctity of the ancestors whose remains were depicted.”
On the show, the husband-and-wife team of Tristyn and Kamohai Kalama work to renovate distressed properties on the Big Island, transforming neglected houses into family homes with the assistance of their extended family.
Following the controversy, HGTV announced it would re-edit the episode, removing the footage of the remains for future airings across all platforms.
Local authorities were notified immediately after the remains were uncovered. Out of respect, the Kalamas opted not to develop the lot, which was later blessed by a community elder.
In an Instagram Live session last week, the Kalamas expressed their commitment to following appropriate protocols and their respect for Hawaiian culture, reiterating that they never intended to build on the site.
It is important to note that the Kalamas do not have editorial control over the series.
