[Federal Register: October 10, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 197)]
[Notices]
[Page 53021-53022]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10oc97-120]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items From the Island of
Hawaii in the Possession of the Bernice Puahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu,
HI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate
cultural items in the possession of the Bernice Puahi Bishop Museum,
Honolulu, HI which meet the definition of ``unassociated funerary
objects'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    The 53 cultural items include pieces or fragments of burial kapa
cloth, a stick, an amulet, cordage, gourd water bottles, coconut cups,
wooden bowls, a burial mat, a float net, a canoe part, fishhooks,
pieces of matting, and netting samples.
    In 1889, 30 items including pieces or fragments of burial kapa
cloth, a stick, an amulet, cordage, gourd water bottles, coconut cups,
and wooden bowls were purchased by the Bishop Museum from Joseph S.
Emerson as part of the original collections of the Bishop Museum. In
1904, additional kapa fragments were received by the Bishop Museum from
Mr. Emerson. Catalog information lists their locality as Hawaii.
    In 1929, eleven items including pieces of burial kapa, cordage, and
a burial mat were received in an exchange with Mr. Theodore T. Dranga.
Catalog information lists their locality as Hawaii.
    In 1931, four items including a pillow, a container, a float net,
and a canoe part were donated to the Bishop Museum by Ms. Marcia Brown
Richards. Catalog information lists their locality as Hawaii.
    In 1939, one item consisting of burial kapa fragments was donated
to the Bishop Museum by Mr. Julius S. Rodman. Catalog information lists
their locality as Hawaii.
    In 1940, three items including two fishhooks and kapa samples were
donated to the Bishop Museum by Mr. Keith K. Jones. Catalog information
lists their locality as Hawaii.
    In 1960, one item consisting of kapa samples were donated to the
Bishop Museum by Mrs. Cy Gillette. Catalog information lists their
locality as Hawaii.
    In 1985, three items including samples of mat, cordage, and netting
were collected by Bishop Museum staff from burial sites in Kalala,
Kohala, HI.
    Based on known Native Hawaiian tradition and practices, these items
are consistent with Native Hawaiian funerary objects. Consultation
evidence presented by Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei supports the
conclusion that these items were placed with human remains.
    Officials of the Bishop Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), these 53 cultural items are reasonably believed to
have been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of
death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony and are believed,
by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a
specific burial site of an Native American individual. Officials of the
Bishop Museum have also determined

[[Page 53022]]

that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of shared
group identity which can be reasonably traced between these items and
the Hawai'i Island Burial Council, Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i
Nei, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Hawai'i Island Burial
Council, Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei, and the Office of
Hawaiian Affairs. Representatives of any other Native Hawaiian
organization that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with
these objects should contact Janet Ness, Registrar, Bernice Pauahi
Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, HI 96817; telephone:
(805) 848-4105 before November 10, 1997. Repatriation of these objects
to Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei on behalf of Hawai'i Island
Burial Council may begin after that date if no additional claimants
come forward.
Dated: October 2, 1997.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and
Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 97-26874 Filed 10-9-97 ; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F

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