HGTV’s 'Renovation Aloha' stars sued for allegedly showing Native Hawaiian remains on TV The HGTV series "Renovation Aloha," which follows married couple Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama as they renovate homes on Oahu, is facing a legal challenge after an episode aired that allegedly violated state law by displaying the remains of Native Hawaiian ancestors. The episode, titled “Bones on the Big Island,” was noticed by the state’s Attorney General’s Office and led to a lawsuit against the Kalamas, HGTV, Discovery Inc., and producer Nathan Fields. According to a complaint obtained by People magazine, the episode included footage of human skeletal remains discovered during filming on a residential renovation project. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) indicated that the remains, located on the property, were likely iwi kupuna—skeletal remains of Native Hawaiian ancestors. The lawsuit alleges that the show aired the footage without consent from a burial council or the DLNR, violating state laws protecting Native Hawaiian cultural heritage. The motion seeks unspecified civil penalties and a permanent injunction to remove any online or broadcast content depicting the remains. An HGTV spokesperson stated in a statement shared with People magazine that the network takes the concerns of the Native Hawaiian community seriously and apologized for any offense caused by the episode, emphasizing that it was not their intention. Deadline reported that the episode was re-edited to remove the footage and includes a note stating that local authorities were contacted immediately upon the discovery of the remains. The Kalamas also decided not to proceed with developing the lot out of respect for the cultural significance of the site.#hgTV #kamohai_kalama #tristyn_kalama #discovery_inc #nathan_fields
