He Pane Hoomalamalama: Setting the Record Straight and a Second Call for Partnership

Abstract

In accordance with Hawaiian protocol, a visitor to an area offers an oli kiihea, a chant asking for permission to enter. Such permission, if appropriate, is granted through an oli komo clarifying that the visitor is a guest and allowed entrance only by approval of the host. A historic problem with archaeology in Hawai'i and elsewhere is that archaeologists failed to understand the need to obtain permission from the living descendants/of those they sought to study.