Martha's Vineyard Museum Ships Back Hawaiian Canoe and Skirt
Published Date: 4/23/2026
Notice
Summary
The Martha's Vineyard Museum plans to return three sacred Hawaiian items—a canoe, a grass skirt with tapa cloth, and a poi pounder—to Native Hawaiian groups starting May 26, 2026. These special objects were donated decades ago and are important for traditional ceremonies today. This repatriation honors Native Hawaiian culture and respects their rights to these meaningful items.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Scheduled repatriation of Hawaiian items
The Martha's Vineyard Museum intends to return three sacred Hawaiian items—a canoe, a grass skirt with tapa cloth, and a poi pounder—to Native Hawaiian groups. The repatriation may occur on or after May 26, 2026.
Museum finds items are sacred
The Martha's Vineyard Museum has determined the three items are specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American religious leader for present-day adherents. The Museum also found a cultural affiliation between the items and the Hui Iwi Kuamo[revaps]o.
Who may request repatriation and process
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named in the notice may submit a written request for repatriation to the Martha's Vineyard Museum and must show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, the Museum will determine the most appropriate requestor; joint requests are treated as a single request.
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