The group Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawaii Nei, which borrowed 83 objects from the Bishop Museum in 2000, hid them in a secret cave on the Big Island because the group claims the artifacts belong to the dead and aren't meant for public display.

They include a human-hair wig, containers with human teeth and carved wooden statuettes of family gods.

Hui Malama lawyer Alan Murakami says his group is dedicated to finding a solution.