[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 85 (Friday, May 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 23491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10914]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Bernice Pauahi 
Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3005, Sec. 7, of the 
intent to repatriate cultural items from Moloka'i, HI, in the 
possession of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI, that meet 
the definition of ``unassociated funerary objects'' under Section 2 of 
the Act.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003, Sec. 5 
(d)(3). The determinations within this notice are the sole 
responsibility of the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has 
control of these cultural items. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations within this notice.
    In the 1890s or early 1900s, Dr. C.M. Hyde purchased a small wooden 
image carved into a human form for the museum. According to accession 
records, Dr. Hyde purchased the carved human image on the island of 
Moloka'i from a ``native who found this idol wrapped in tapa with awa & 
bones of red fish in a cave.'' The cave is believed to have been a 
burial site.
    In February, 1941, Jack Porteus collected a cowrie shell from 
Mo'omomi Sand Burials, Moloka'i, HI.
    Excavation records indicate that the human remains with whom these 
funerary objects were associated were not collected, or were collected 
but are no longer within the Bishop Museum's collection.
    A detailed assessment of these unassociated funerary objects was 
made by Bishop Museum's professional staff in consultation with 
representatives from the Moloka'i Island Burial Council.
    Officials of the Bishop Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001, Sec 2 (3)(B), these two 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 also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 
3001, Sec. 2 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that 
can be reasonably traced between these unassociated funerary objects 
and the Moloka'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 unassociated 
funerary objects should contact Dr. Guy Kaulukukui, Vice President of 
Cultural Studies, Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, HI 
96718-2704, telephone (808) 848-4126 before June 2, 2003. Repatriation 
of these unassociated funerary objects to the Moloka'i Island Burial 
Council, Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai`i Nei and Office of Hawaiian 
Affairs may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Bishop Museum is responsible for notifying the Moloka'i Island 
Burial Council, Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai`i Nei, and Office of 
Hawaiian Affairs that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 8, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 03-10914 Filed 5-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S