One of my favorite sources of Hawaii views is the HGTV show Renovation Aloha. It combines both my love of renovation shows with one of my favorite places in the world: Hawaii.
The show stars Kamohai Kalama and his wife Tristyn Kalama, as they renovate rundown Hawaii properties. Their goal is to bring dilapidated homes back to life, making them affordable for Hawaiian families.
But the show is facing legal issues after airing an episode where ancient skeletal remains were found. While exploring an underground lava tube on a property on which they were considering building, the Kamalas discovered human remains. Though they didn’t disturb them in any way, images of the bones were apparently shown in the original episode, violating Hawaiian law. An investigation is underway.
An episode allegedly featured ancient Native Hawaiian burial remains
According to Hawaii News Now, the State Attorney General is investigating whether a crime was committed by showing uncensored images of the remains.
When Kamohai and Tristyn discovered the remains in the cave, they immediately notified police. After the bones were determined to be ancient native remains, the Kamalas had them blessed. They also decided never to build on the property and erected around it.
The episode was filmed in December 2025. At the time, Hilo police determined no crime had been committed. The state AG also obtained a TRO preventing broadcast of the images, in accordance with state law.
However, when the episode aired, apparently uncensored footage of the bones was shown. Additionally, video of the remains was also shared online by both the Kalamas and HGTV.
Reaction was quick from the Hawaiian community. “We do not lay our bones out in the sun to expose him in this manner,” said former Oahu Island Burial Council Chair Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu. She called the release of the images “extremely disappointing.”
Though the AG took legal action to obtain the TRO and prevent the episode from being broadcast, it was released nonetheless. “The Department will pursue additional action as necessary,” they said.
In a statement, HGTV said, “We take the concerns raised by the community very seriously and are committed to ensuring our programming is respectful and appropriate. We apologize to anyone who found any part of the episode offensive, that was not HGTV’s intention.”
On Instagram, the Kalamas stated that they followed the protocols they knew and never intend to build there. They stressed their respect for Hawaiian culture and practices.
Renovation Aloha airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on HGTV.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK THE KALAMAS AND HGTV INTENDED TO COMMIT A CRIME?
