Families of people buried at Nāʻālehu Cemetery encouraged to submit claim for recovered items

Hawaiʻi County encourages people with family members buried at Nāʻālehu Cemetery to submit a claim for recovered items ahead of an approaching filing date.

Flooding in August caused by Hurricane Lala resulted in significant damage to the cemetery. A multi-agency effort, led by Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, began to recover and protect impacted burials and restore safe access to the cemetery.

Hawaiʻi County Department of Parks and Recreation in late September as part of that effort initiated a process for family members to claim items displaced — such as grave markers, interment vessels, personal effects and other objects placed atop or within a burial plot.

Process for claiming recovered items

All claims for displaced cemetery items filed on or before Nov. 2 will be considered.

Any claim will be considered as it is received if no claims are received by the established filing date. Family members are encouraged to submit claims before Nov. 2 to ensure all competing claims can be considered and resolved.

All claims filed also will be considered until the date they are identified and assigned if an item cannot be definitively attributed to someone buried at the cemetery.

Find a full explanation of the claim process and access the claim form on the Parks and Recreation website. Click on the links under “Claiming Recovered Items.”

Printable and fillable forms are available, as well as a document outlining claim procedures.

This claim process does not apply to human remains.

Separate procedures are being developed to identify displaced remains and return them to family members.

Cemetery access

Nāʻālehu Cemetery is now open 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily for visitation, except Section A which sustained the heaviest damage and remains closed with protective barriers in place.

Reopening of public access to the cemetery follows restoration of Kaʻalaiki Road.

Visitors are urged to stay on open pathways and not cross any barriers to ensure their safety and protection of burial sites.

Section A sites can be safely viewed from areas open and designated for public access. Be aware of the presence of construction equipment and drive with care when traveling on Kaʻalaiki Road.

Cemetery visits and meetings

County staff and other members of the recovery team will be at the cemetery from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 1 to offer support services and provide information about the recovery effort.

The county also will host another cemetery update meeting at 5 p.m. Nov. 4 at Nāʻālehu Community Center at Nāʻālehu Park. This is a private meeting intended for those with family members buried at the cemetery.

Guided access to family members of those laid to rest in Section A was offered Oct. 25, allowing them to reconnect with family burial sites and view damage to the cemetery with as much privacy as possible. Mental health and spiritual support services also were available for participants.