[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 60664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-22834]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Hawai'i 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 Hawai'i at Hilo, Hilo, HI. The 
human remains were removed from three locations on Hawai'i 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 human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by University 
of Hawai'i at Hilo professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Hawaii Island Burial Council, Department of 
Hawaiian Homelands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hui Malama Ola Na 
'Oiwi, Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka'u, Ka 'Ohana Punalu'u, and the 
Punalu'u Preservation Association.
    In 1954, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Keanapuhi'ula Cave, or ``Kawena's Cave'' (site H13), 
Kaunamano ahupua'a, Ka'u District, Hawai'i Island, HI, as part of joint 
excavation projects in the Ka'u area by the University of Hawai'i at 
Hilo and the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, HI. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The burial is a secondary burial. Secondary burial in caves was a 
common form of Native Hawaiian burial prior to European contact, and 
was not generally practiced by historic immigrant communities in the 
Hawaiian Islands.
    At an unknown time during the 1950s, human remains representing a 
minimum of one individual were removed from the Pu'u Ali'i Sand Dune 
Site (site H1), Kamau'oa Pu'u'eo ahupua'a, Ka'u District, Hawai'i 
Island, HI, under the direction of Professor William Bonk at the 
University of Hawai'i at Hilo. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The Pu'u Ali'i Sand Dune site is a Native Hawaiian fishing village 
dating to A.D. 1250-1350. The cemetery dates to pre-European contact.
    All other known human remains removed from the site and formerly 
stored at University of Hawai'i at Hilo were repatriated through the 
Hawai'i State Historic Preservation Division to Ka 'Ohana o Ka Lae 
before the passage of NAGPRA.

    In 1975, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the Mahana Bay IV site, Kamau'oa Pu'u'eo ahupua'a, 
Ka'u District, Hawai'i Island, HI, as part of long-term excavations 
conducted between 1973 and 1977 under the direction of Professor 
William Bonk at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The Mahana Bay area is well documented as a Native Hawaiian fishing 
community from the prehistoric era through much of the historical era.
    Officials of the University of Hawai'i at Hilo have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of three individuals of Native 
Hawaiian ancestry. Officials of the University of Hawai'i 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 Punalu'u Preservation 
Association and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
    Representatives of any other Native Hawaiian Organization or Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human 
remains should contact Peter R. Mills, Department of Anthropology, 
Social Sciences Division, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 West 
Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720-4091, telephone (808) 974-7465, before 
November 12, 2004. Repatriation of the human remains jointly to the 
Punalu'u Preservation Association and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs 
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The University of Hawai'i at Hilo is responsible for notifying the 
Hawai'i Island Burial Council, Department of Hawaiian Homelands, Office 
of Hawaiian Affairs, Hui Malama Ola Na 'Oiwi, Hawaiian Civic Club of 
Ka'u, and Ka 'Ohana Punalu'u that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 1, 2004.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 04-22834 Filed 10-8-04; 8:45 am]
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