‘Renovation Aloha’ Stars Sued Over Discovery of Native Hawaiian Remains on TV

A stunning discovery on a Hilo property has turned into a legal nightmare for the hosts of HGTV’s “Renovation Aloha.” Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama are facing a lawsuit after the show aired footage of human skeletal remains, known as iwi kupuna that they uncovered while scouting a development site. The state of Hawaii alleges the broadcast violated laws that grant these ancestral remains the highest level of protection.

The episode, titled “Bones on the Big Island,” captured the moment Kamohai Kalama shone a flashlight into an underground lava tube. “Holy crap,” he said on camera. “There’s bones back here.” The couple never touched or removed the remains and immediately notified local authorities. They also made the decision not to develop the lot, which was later blessed by a community elder.

But that wasn’t enough to satisfy state law.

The Hawaii Attorney General’s Office filed a civil complaint naming the Kalamas, HGTV, Discovery Inc., and producer Nathan Fields as defendants. The state argues that iwi kupuna are afforded the highest level of protection under Hawaii law, and photography of those remains is prohibited unless written consent is obtained from the appropriate burial council or the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The state claims no such consent was ever secured.

The Renovation Aloha lawsuit also cites social media posts. The state alleges the Kalamas shared video and photographic content depicting the remains on their public Instagram account.

The state obtained a temporary restraining order ahead of the episode’s April 14 air date, seeking to prevent the footage from being broadcast. Despite the court’s order, the episode aired as originally produced. A judge later granted a restraining order to have the episode taken down.

“The broadcast of footage depicting iwi kupuna on national television causes profound and irreparable harm to the Native Hawaiian community,” the complaint states.

HGTV has since apologized and released a re-edited version of the episode with all footage of the remains removed. The Kalamas addressed the situation on Instagram Live, saying they followed the protocols known to them and never intended to build on the property. They also noted they have no editorial control over the series.

The state is seeking unspecified civil penalties and a permanent injunction ordering the removal of any online or broadcast content showing the remains.