HONOLULU -- Members of the group Hui Malama had until 4 p.m. Wednesday to tell a federal judge exactly where it reburied the Native Hawaiian artifacts on the Big Island. They did not.

A wooden stature is one of the artifacts that was taken from a Kawaihae cave in the 1900s by David Forbes, who sold them to the Bishop Museum. The artifacts are at the heart of the legal struggle.

Hui Malama's attorney said it would against be against his client's religion to disclose the exact location of the items as well as the names of people who were involved in the reburial.

"Knowing that would be used to disturb the moepu (Hawaiian artifacts) from their eternal resting place runs directly contrary to the most basic fundamental religious cultural believes that my clients have of protecting the moepu," said Alan Murakami, of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp.

Hui Malama faces contempt charges, including a fine and or jail for failing to comply with the judge's order.