Notice of Intended Repatriation: Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum (BPBM) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 209 (Friday, October 30, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 209 (Friday, October 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 68553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22145]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7596; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0044068; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, 
Honolulu, HI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum (BPBM) 
intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition 
of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation 
with the Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after November 30, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Jill Sommer, NAGPRA Coordinator, 
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, HI 96817, 
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81c3ccafcfc0c6d1d3c0c1e3e8f2e9eef1ecf4f2e4f4ecafeef3e6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="63212e4d2d222433312223010a100b0c130e161006160e4d0c1104">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
BPBM and additional information on the determinations in this notice, 
including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or 
related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of nine cultural items, identified as Honoko[revaps]a Gulch 
items ``Lots 1-9,'' have been requested for repatriation by the Native 
Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice. The nine unassociated 
funerary objects include carved ki[revaps]i (stick images), [revaps]ipu 
[revaps]aina (refuse bowls), nae (feather cape fragment), ki[revaps]i 
wahine (carved female figure), hair helmet/wig, and a boar tusk 
bracelet. These items were collected by David Forbes, Friedrich 
Haenisch, and William Wagner in 1905 from the Honoko[revaps]a Gulch 
Cave Complex, in an area known as Forbes Cave, in Kawaihae, 
Hawai[revaps]i Island, and received by BPBM in 1907.

Determinations

    The BPBM has determined that:
    <bullet> The nine unassociated funerary objects described in this 
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near human 
remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or 
ceremony of a Native American culture. The unassociated funerary 
objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as 
related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed 
from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or 
individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice and the Mary Kawena Pukui Cultural Preservation Society; 
the [revaps]Ohana Diamond; the [revaps]Ohana Kekumano; the 
[revaps]Ohana Keohok[amacr]lole; the [revaps]Ohana Olds; and the Temple 
of Lono (collectively, the Pukui Society Group) and Aloha 
[revaps][Amacr]ina o Hawai[revaps]i, Inc.
    <bullet> The Mary Kawena Pukui Cultural Preservation Society; the 
[revaps]Ohana Diamond; the [revaps]Ohana Kekumano; the [revaps]Ohana 
Keohok[amacr]lole; the [revaps]Ohana Olds; and the Temple of Lono 
(collectively, the Pukui Society Group) have the closest cultural 
affiliation and are the most appropriate requestors for these 
unassociated funerary objects.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be 
submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal 
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after November 30, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the BPBM must determine the most appropriate 
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the 
cultural items are considered a single request and not competing 
requests. The BPBM is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to 
the Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any 
other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: October 22, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-22145 Filed 10-29-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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