Few issues have been as unsettled, and unsettling, as the delayed reburial of human remains unearthed in recent Honolulu development projects.

Particularly distressing has been the case at the Ke'eau-moku Street Wal-Mart site involving dozens of sets of Native Hawaiian bones, or iwi. A bitter dispute over how to treat the remains has lasted for four years, with the remains languishing in the undignified limbo of a trailer positioned beneath a parking ramp at the shopping center.

It's even more tragic that some reasonable settlement couldn't have been reached short of the final delay: a quasi-judicial state proceeding over allegations that archaeologists illegally "tampered" with the remains. At least, that public proceeding — a state Historic Preservation Division contested-case hearing — now is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. June 12 at the Department of Land and Natural Resources education room.

More recently, there's been an encouraging move to find a settlement. The O'ahu Island Burial Council is pressing for the prompt reburial of remains not needed as evidence in that case, a request that the state should shepherd through as quickly as possible.

It is also heartening to see that the state approved a burial plan for remains unearthed during construction at a Ward Centers complex. More bones were uncovered in recent weeks, and they will be reburied together with the other remains.

Developers need to start with the assumption that burials are common in this area and to plan for minimal disturbances at the site.

But when disturbances can't be avoided, a route toward prompt resolution and reburial should be sought. Prolonging the battles serves no purpose. It certainly does not extend the respect that should be shown on burial grounds.