[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8358-8359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2601]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Department of Anthropology, 
University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, 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. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains in the possession of the 
Department of Anthropology, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI. The 
human remains were removed from Hawaii Island, HI.
    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 Native 
American remains. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the 
University of Hawaii at Hilo professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Big Island Burial Council, Department of 
Hawaiian Homelands, Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawaii Nei, and the Office 
of Hawaiian Affairs.
    In August 1980, human remains were removed from Kahalu'u Habitation 
Cave (site 50-10-37-7702) and a small adjacent lava tube (site 50-10-
37-5611) in Kahalu'u, North Kona, HI, by the University of Hawaii at 
Hilo and Paul H. Rosendahl, Inc., during excavations for the West 
Hawaii Housing Foundation, as mitigation prior to a federal housing 
development. Human remains discovered at the time were determined to be 
prehistoric and reburied. Midden deposits from both sites are in the 
possession of the University of Hawaii at Hilo. During the NAGPRA 
inventory process, additional human remains representing a minimum of 
three individuals from 50-10-37-7702 and one individual from 50-10-37-
5611 were discovered in the midden deposits. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

[[Page 8359]]

    Sites 7702 and 5611 were partially collapsed lava tubes located 
approximately 300 m from the coast of Kahalu'u Bay. Both sites 
contained midden deposits dating prior to contact and the associated 
burials also date to this pre-contact era. These findings support a 
cultural affiliation for the human remains as Native Hawaiian.
    Officials of the University of Hawaii at Hilo have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above 
represent a minimum of four individuals of Native Hawaiian ancestry. 
Officials of the University of Hawaii at Hilo 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 Native 
Hawaiian human remains and the Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawaii Nei and 
Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
    Representatives of any other Native Hawaiian Organization that 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains 
should contact Peter R. Mills, Department of Anthropology, Social 
Sciences Division, 200 West Kawaili Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4091, 
telephone (808) 974-7465, before March 14, 2008. Repatriation of the 
human remains to the the Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawaii Nei and the 
Office of Hawaiian Affairs may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The University of Hawaii at Hilo is responsible for notifying the 
Big Island Burial Council, Department of Hawaiian Homelands, Hui Malama 
I Na Kupuna O Hawaii Nei, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: December 13, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-2601 Filed 2-12-08; 8:45 am]
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