[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44687-44688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15323]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


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

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate a cultural item in the possession of the Bernice Pauahi 
Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI, that meets the definition of 
``unassociated funerary object'' under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3). 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    In 1937, Emma Turnbull removed a cultural item in the sands of a 
West Molokai beach, Molokai Island, HI. The cultural item is one rock 
oyster pendant.

[[Page 44688]]

 It is believed that Ms. Turnbull most likely found the pendant in an 
area known as Mo'omomi. In 1976, Ms. Turnbull's daughter, Mrs. J.D. 
Korsund, wrote to the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum requesting 
information on the pendant and mentioned that the pendant was found in 
an area that had human remains. In 1985, Ms. Turnbull sent a letter to 
the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum stating that she was sending the 
pendant as a gift to the museum and that there were many bones in the 
area where she picked up the pendant. In June of that same year, Ms. 
Turnbull signed the deed of gift for the pendant to the Bernice Pauahi 
Bishop Museum. The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum has classified the 
pendant as a ``niho palaoa'' due to its similarity in shape to other 
Hawaiian pendants usually made from animal ivory or whale teeth.
    Consultation was held with the representatives of the Hui Malama I 
Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei, Maui/Lanai Island Burial Council, Molokai 
Island Burial Council, Na Lei Ali'i Kawananakoa, and Royal Hawaiian 
Academy of Traditional Arts. Based on Ms. Turnbull's description that 
the pendant was found in an area with evidence of burials, it was 
concluded during consultation that this pendant may be classified as an 
unassociated funerary object.

    Officials of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the one cultural item described 
above is 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 is believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
Hawaiian individual. Officials of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum also 
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a 
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between the unassociated funerary object and the Hui Malama I Na Kupuna 
O Hawai'i Nei, Na Lei Ali'i Kawananakoa, and Royal Hawaiian Academy of 
Traditional Arts.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the 
unassociated funerary object should contact Betty Kam, Bernice Pauahi 
Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, HI, 96817, telephone 
(808) 848-4144, before September 2, 2005. Repatriation of the 
unassociated funerary object to Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei, 
Na Lei Ali'i Kawananakoa, and Royal Hawaiian Academy of Traditional 
Arts may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum is responsible for notifying the Hui 
Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei, Maui/Lanai Island Burial Council, 
Molokai Island Burial Council, Na Lei Ali'i Kawananakoa, and Royal 
Hawaiian Academy of Traditional Arts that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: July 5, 2005
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 05-15323 Filed 8-2-05; 8:45 am]
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