HONOLULU -- After weeks of jail time, a federal judge released Native Hawaiian leader Edward Ayau on Tuesday after an agreement was reached over mediation about buried artifacts.

The Native Hawaiian group Hui Malama, which returned the items to the caves, has so far refused a federal judge's order to retrieve them or help other Hawaiian groups collect them.

Judge David Ezra said that Ayau is still in civil contempt for not complying with the order. However, he said Ayau should participate in the mediation process.

"I didn't expect to be released, but I can't exactly say that I'm ecstatic about it," Ayau said.

Ayau will be under home confinement and must wear an electronic monitoring device.

Ayau said he will still not reveal the location of the cultural artifacts on the Big Island. However, he said that he will abide by the judge's wishes to participate in mediation in good faith.

Two mediators have been chosen to oversee the talks with Hui Malama and other Native Hawaiian groups. The two are Kamehameha Schools trustee Nainoa Thompson and Kamehameha Schools Waimanalo site coordinator Earl Kawaa.

Hui Malama returned 83 Hawaiian artifacts to the burial caves from which they were taken a century ago. Other groups said the reburial was wrong and want the items recovered.

The judge set Feb. 24 as a deadline for the groups to reach an agreement.