97-26874. Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items From the Island of Hawaii in the Possession of the Bernice Puahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 197 (Friday, October 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53021-53022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26874]


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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: 
[phone] 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