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 Boston Children's Museum, 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 eight cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The eight sacred objects are two 'Umeke Lā'au (Wooden Bowls), an Ipu Wai (Water Container), an 'Ulu Maika (Bowling Stone), an I'e Kuku (Tapa Beater), an Koko (Net Holder for Bowl), an Pōhaku Ku'i 'Ai (Poi Pounder), and a Lūhe'e (Octopus Lure).

The Ipu Wai, 'Ulu Maika, and I'e Kuku were donated to the museum in 1915 by Lucy M. Prince of Boston, after it was collected by her sister, Frances C. Prince, in 1898 on a trip to the Pacific Islands to gather materials for lectures.

One of the 'Umeke Lā'au was donated to the museum in 1949 by Dorothy Hildreth of Cambridge, Massachusetts. While the other 'Umeke Lā'au is bereft of accession and provenance information, contextual information such as its object ID number indicate it was most likely donated to the museum during or before the year of 1930.

The Koko, indicated to be 100 years old at time of sale, and the Pōhaku Ku'i 'Ai, noted to have originated in Kauai, was purchased by the museum in 1968 from Joseph A. O'Leary of Opa-Locka, Florida.

The Lūhe'e's provenance is unfortunately unknown. Based-off of the museum staffs' knowledge of the institution's cataloging system (XX numbering), the object was most likely Found-in-Collections during the 1950s-60s but actually donated or gifted in the earlier years of the museum, c. 1913-1930.

All of these items have cultural associations with Hui Iwi Kuamo'o. No potentially hazardous substances are known to have been used to treat any of these items.

Determinations

Boston Children's Museum has determined that:

• The eight sacred objects described in this notice are specific ceremonial ( printed page 54755) objects needed by a traditional Native American religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization.
• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Hui Iwi Kuamo'o.

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 September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, Boston Children's Museum 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. Boston Children's Museum is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and 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.

91 FR 54754