Hawaiian Relics Travel from Midwest Museum Back Home
Published Date: 2/23/2026
Notice
Summary
The Illinois State Museum plans to return four sacred Hawaiian cultural items, including kapa cloth and cordage, to Native Hawaiian groups starting March 25, 2026. These items, bought in 1863 and held since 1890, are important for traditional religious practices. If you want to request repatriation, act soon and contact the museum directly—no money changes hands, just respect and care for culture.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Four Hawaiian Sacred Items Returned
The Illinois State Museum plans to return four sacred Native Hawaiian items — three sections of kapa cloth and one piece of cordage (kaula) — beginning on or after March 25, 2026. The museum says the items were purchased in 1863 and donated to the museum in 1890; written requests should be sent to Brooke M. Morgan at the Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center (1011 East Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703) or the email address listed in the notice.
Who Can Request Repatriation
Any lineal descendant or Native Hawaiian organization (including those not named in the notice) may submit a written request for these items by showing, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they are a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Native Hawaiian organization. If competing requests are received, the Illinois State Museum must decide the most appropriate requestor before repatriating the items; joint requests are treated as a single request.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-04606, Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves
The National Park Service wants to update hunting and trapping rules in Alaska’s national preserves to bring back long-standing practices that support state-authorized wildlife harvests and public access. These changes affect hunters, trappers, and anyone using Alaska park lands, aiming to balance conservation with local traditions. You’ve got until April 9, 2026, to share your thoughts—no new fees or costs are expected.
2026-20013, Agency Information Collection Activities; Archeology Permit Applications and Reports
The National Park Service wants to keep collecting info for archeology permits and reports, making sure the process stays smooth and clear. This affects archeologists and anyone applying for permits to dig or study artifacts in parks. They’re asking for comments by October 30, 2026, but no changes to fees or big costs are planned.
2026-20015, Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Concessions Forms
The National Park Service is asking to keep using their current forms for park concessions, like shops and services, without changes. This affects businesses working with the parks and helps reduce paperwork hassle. You’ve got until October 30, 2026, to share your thoughts—no fees or new costs involved!
2026-19996, Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
California State University, Sacramento plans to return over 8,500 cultural items to Native American tribes connected to northern Tehama County. These items include stones, bones, pigments, and historic materials, and the repatriation can start on or after October 30, 2026. This move respects Native heritage and involves no cost to the public but honors important cultural ties.
2026-19002, National Park Service Alaska Region Subsistence Resource Commission Program; Notice of Public Meetings
The National Park Service is holding meetings for Alaska's Subsistence Resource Commissions to discuss local hunting, fishing, and gathering rules. These meetings affect residents who rely on park resources and will happen mostly in October and November 2026, with one in February 2027. No big costs are expected, but these talks help keep subsistence traditions alive and fair.
2026-18306, Official Trail Marker for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail
This notice issues the official trail marker insignia for the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail in the National Trails System. The original graphic image for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail was developed in 2026 with the completion of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail Comprehensive Plan. The National Park Service and related agencies have officially adopted and use this insignia to help mark all designated alignments of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-03567, Notice of Inventory Completion: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Division of Archaeology, Nashville, TN
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has finished checking human remains and over 1,500 related items found in a Montgomery County cave. These remains belong to Native American tribes connected to the site, and they can be returned to those tribes starting March 25, 2026. This means important cultural treasures will soon go back to their rightful communities, honoring their history and heritage.
Next: 2026-03569, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
The University of California, Berkeley has finished checking its collection and found Native American human remains and 13 special objects linked to them. These items, taken from San Diego County long ago, will be returned to the right Native American tribes starting March 25, 2026. If you want to request the return, you can contact the university soon to make it happen.