A painful chapter in Hawaiian affairs has ended satisfactorily with the settlement of a legal challenge over the reburial of 83 cultural artifacts in a Kohala cave complex.

The 18-month federal court challenge pitted a nonprofit burials protection group, Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei, against two other groups asserting a claim on the objects, Na Lei Alii Kawananakoa and the Royal Hawaiian Academy of Traditional Arts. The plaintiffs deserve credit for taking this step in such a highly charged atmosphere, because their courage has resulted in a needed course correction.

The hui acted in pursuit of their right-minded mission: the respectful treatment of ancient native burials and objects sacred to the culture. But the group overstepped its bounds when it reburied the objects six years ago before the established legal process had played out.

The fact that the objects had been stolen from the cave a century ago and ended up at Bishop Museum certainly underscores the need for the federal burials law. But trying to short-circuit what the law created — a process for determining ownership of these cultural artifacts — can't be justified.

It's unfortunate that Native Hawaiians, lacking any kind of unified authority representing their interests, must go through such a complex claims process to take advantage of federal protections. But unless and until that changes, it's important that these sensitive disputes be handled through consultation that is as open and inclusive as possible.

Now Bishop Museum must move without delay to resume the search for claimants who can make a case, and decide which native organization should have title to the objects. The sooner the future of these cultural treasures can be settled, the better.