Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum to return sacred Hawaiian artifacts home
Published Date: 3/16/2026
Notice
Summary
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh plans to return 12 sacred Hawaiian cultural items to Native Hawaiian groups starting April 15, 2026. These special objects, like tapa cloths and whale tooth necklaces, were donated over many years and will be respectfully repatriated. This move honors Native Hawaiian traditions and strengthens cultural respect without any cost impact to the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Museum to Return 12 Hawaiian Sacred Items
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History plans to return 12 sacred Hawaiian cultural items (including three kapa/tapa cloths and a whale-tooth pendant necklace) to Native Hawaiian groups. The museum says these objects were donated by nine donors over seven decades and that repatriation may occur on or after April 15, 2026.
Who Can Request Repatriation and How
Lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations can submit written requests for these cultural items to Amy Covell-Murthy at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Requestors must show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are lineal descendants or culturally affiliated, requests may be acted on on or after April 15, 2026, and the museum will decide between competing requests (joint requests count as one).
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