Renovation Aloha recently returned for a third season this December. However, the series has currently come under fire from local officials after human remains appeared during one episode. HGTV has since responded to the story, but the investigation is still ongoing.
The Story Stems Back To Filming For Renovation Aloha Back In December 2025
Renovation Aloha made its debut in 2024. The show follows a pair of married home renovators, Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama, who transform homes on the island of O’ahu.
Back in March, the series launched its third season on HGTV. However, a recent episode has gotten the show into some trouble with local authorities.
According to Hawaii News Now, the show is currently under scrutiny after an episode featured ancient Native burial remains. State officials, however, claim that the show might have crossed a legal line.
This issue reportedly stems back to December 2025, when the hosts were filming on a property in Hilo. It was then that they came across skeletal remains within a cave. The footage then reportedly made it into the show.
HGTV Has Since Issued An Apology Concerning The Episode & The Site Has Since Been Blessed
However, in Hawaii, burial remains are considered deeply sacred. There are strict laws concerning them, with officials saying it is illegal to film or broadcast remains without the proper authorization.
According to reports, the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General stepped in to secure a temporary restraining order to block footage of the remains from airing. However, by then, the episode had already aired, with clips circulating online.
Speaking with TMZ, a spokesperson for HGTV has shared, “We take the concerns raised by the Native Hawaiian 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, as that was not HGTV’s intention.”
Reportedly, HGTV has since pulled the episode, edited out the footage, and has since issued an apology. For their part, the Kalamas chose not to develop the lot, which has since been blessed by a community elder.
That said, the investigation is still ongoing, and potential penalties could occur if it is found that laws were violated. As the outlet noted, the backlash has been intense. According to cultural experts and Hawaiian leaders, the burial sites aren’t just historical; they also function as spiritual resting places. As shared by court documents, the Kalamas and producers of the show now face four counts for allegedly breaking Iwi Kupuna protection rules.
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John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
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