
Notice of Inventory Completion 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.
_________________________________________________________________
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 M lama I N K puna 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 M lama I N K puna
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 M lama I N K puna 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,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR / Nol. 59, No. 38 / Friday, February 25, 1994 / Page 9248]
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