As part of the cleanup crew, the archaeologists' main duty is to identify sites and artifacts for work crews. In some cases, they also monitor clearance to make sure important structures are not disturbed. Crews are told to treat archaeological sites delicately, according to Jim Froneberger, senior project manager with Parsons-UXB, the company contracted by the Navy to clear the island. If a bomb must be detonated near a cultural site, crews will try to protect the structure by insulating it with sandbags and tires. If a team needs to work around artifacts, they might move them away then carefully replace them.
Crews also have to respect some traditional standards when working in ceremonial sites like heiau.
Respectful treatment of sites is important to the Hawaiian cultural group, the Protect Kahoolawe Ohana, which uses some of the structures for religious and cultural ceremonies. Davianna McGregor, assistant professor of ethnic studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and a member of Protect Kahoolawe Ohana, said the organization expects crews to treat ruins with physical and cultural delicacy. They're functional religious sites. Hale O Papa is an important ceremonial site, and people working around it need to exercise special knowledge and care because it is surrounded by shallow graves, she added. McGregor said that as far as she knows, measures being taken to protect and respect cultural sites on the island are adequate.