[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 38 (Friday, February 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4237]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: February 25, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Completion of Inventory of Native American Human
Remains from the Hawaiian Islands in the Collections of the Bernice
Pauahi Bishop Museum
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of the
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C.
3003(d), of the completion of an inventory of human remains from the
Hawaiian Islands by the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI.
The human remains consist of a fragmentary skull originally held by
the P.A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, University of California,
Berkeley, CA. The human remains had been accessioned in 1935 and
identified as 12-5456. The Hearst Museum catalog identified the human
remains as deriving from the Hawaiian Islands. In a letter
acknowledging the gift, the acting curator refers to the human remains
as ``Polynesian.''
On January 5, 1992, representatives of Hui Malama I Na Kupuna 'O
Hawai'i Nei, a recognized Native Hawaiian organization, requested
repatriation of the human remains. The Hearst Museum declined to do so
and the dispute was referred to the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Review Committee. The Committee considered contextual,
osteological, and spiritual information in arriving at their finding
that was subsequently published in the Federal Register on April 15,
1993. While the Committee was unable to determine that the
preponderance of the evidence indicated a relationship of shared group
identity which could be reasonably traced between present day Native
Hawaiian organizations and the remains identified as 12-5456, they
recommended that the Hearst Museum transfer the human remains to a
museum in Hawaii for future consideration of cultural affiliation and
care.
The human remains were transferred from the Hearst Museum to the
Bishop Museum on August 11, 1993. An assessment of the human remains by
Bishop Museum staff indicated that they represented a 20-30 year old
male. Dental characteristics and the morphology of the cranial vault
and mandible indicate the individual was of Mongoloid, and probably
Polynesian, ancestry.
Based on the above information, officials of the Bishop Museum, in
consultation with representatives of Hui Malama I Na Kupuna 'O Hawai'i
Nei and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, determined pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001(2) that there is a relationship of shared group identity
which can be reasonably traced between these remains and present-day
Native Hawaiian organizations.
On September 29, 1993 the human remains were transferred to
representatives of Hui Malama I Na Kupuna 'O Hawai'i Nei.
Representatives of any Native Hawaiian organization that believes
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains should
contact Mr. Kunani Nihipali, P.O. Box 190, Haleiwa, HI 96712-0190;
(808) 455-4212.
Dated: February 17, 1994.
Veletta Canouts,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist Chief, Archeological
Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 94-4237 Filed 2-24-94; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
