[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