The Oahu Island Burial Council on Wednesday took up the issue of 69 human remains discovered at a construction site at Kawaiaha'o Church.

Construction of a $17.5 million multipurpose center was suspended until further notice but the council is asking for instructions from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Church officials said they didn't know it was a burial ground until they unearthed the bones. They are waiting for guidance from the State Historic Preservation Division of the DLNR.

"We are waiting for a response from SHPD to give us guidance on what we have to do to continue with our project," Kawaiaha'o Church Board of Trustees Chair Frank Pestana said. "Right now, the church is stopped because of the discovery of iwi (human remains) and have asked DLNR to give us a hand in how to proceed. When we get that response, we'll look at it and figure the best way to proceed with our building."

The bones are being held at the church and will be reburied in Kawaiaha'o Cemetary, officials said.