[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 53652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27215]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
in the Control of the National Park Service, Haleakala National Park, 
Makawao, HI

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 
3003(d), of the completion of an inventory of human remains in the 
control of the National Park Service, Haleakala National Park, Makawao, 
HI.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by National 
Park Service professional staff in association with professional staff 
from the Bishop Museum and in consultation with representatives of the 
Hawai`i Island Burial Council, Hui Malama i na Kapuna o Hawai`i Nei, 
Kona Hawaiian Civic Club, Maui/Lana`i Island Burial Council, Moloka`i 
Island Burial Council, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs. All of the human 
remains have been curated by the Anthropology Department of the Bernice 
P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawai`i since their initial recovery.
    Between 1920 and 1962, human remains representing at least 16 
individuals were recovered from three sites, located within park 
boundaries in and around Haleakala crater, during legally authorized 
fieldwork and excavations. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects were present. The dates for the remains 
have not been established but they probably date from both before and 
after contact was established between Native Hawaiians and Europeans in 
A.D. 1778.
    In 1920, human remains representing two individuals were recovered 
from Na Piko Haua, located within the boundaries of Haleakala crater, 
during legally authorized fieldwork by Kenneth Emory of the Bishop 
Museum. The human remains are two individual bundles, wrapped in blue 
cotton fabric, dark brown hair and paper and tied with white thread. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. On the basis of information provided by a local guide in 1920, 
the bundles' state of preservation, and the presence of imported cotton 
cloth, these navel string bundles probably date from the late 19th to 
early 20th century. These bundles were donated to the Bishop Museum in 
1924 by the collector, who identified them as ``portions of two navel 
strings [umbilical cords] wrapped in hair and cloth.''
    Aside from facilities clearly of 20th century origin, virtually all 
evidence of human use and occupation of the Haleakala crater area is of 
Native Hawaiian origin. Available evidence indicates that Native 
Hawaiians are the only group to bury their dead in the crater region. 
In addition, the manner of burial of the human remains (in or near 
Native Hawaiian structures, in a lava tube, etc.) is consistent with 
Native Hawaiian practices during both pre- and post-contact periods. 
Further, the Native Hawaiian practice of burying the dead in or near 
their home community suggests that all burials found in or near 
Haleakala crater on the island of Maui are of people from Maui 
communities.
    With regard to the navel string bundles, one of the Native Hawaiian 
men who accompanied Emory in 1920 stated that his own umbilical cord 
had been hidden at Na Piko Haua. The practice of depositing umbilical 
cords in at least this one location in the Haleakala crater was a 
Native Hawaiian practice in effect until ca. 1920. As in the case of 
burials, it was customary for Native Hawaiians to deposit umbilical 
cords in the general vicinity of the community where the birth had 
taken place. This practice was confirmed by the Native Hawaiian guide. 
Based on this information, the navel string bundles in the collection 
are considered to be from infants born in communities on the slopes of 
Haleakala.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the National 
Park Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the 
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of at least 
18 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the National 
Park Service have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3003 (2), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity which can reasonably 
be traced between these Native American human remains and the Maui/
Lana`i Island Burial Council.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Hawai`i Island Burial 
Council, Hui Malama i na Kapuna o Hawai`i Nei, Kona Hawaiian Civic 
Club, Maui/Lana`i Island Burial Council, Moloka`i Island Burial 
Council, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Representatives of any other 
Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Don Reeser, Superintendent, Haleakala National 
Park, PO Box 369, Makawao, Maui, HI, 96768; telephone: (808) 572-9306, 
before [thirty days after publication in the Federal Register]. 
Repatriation of the human remains to the Maui/Lana`i Island Burial 
Council will begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
Dated: October 6, 1997.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 97-27215 Filed 10-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F