Burial Cave Pipe Heads Home from NY Museum to Hawaii
Published Date: 3/2/2026
Notice
Summary
The American Museum of Natural History has finished checking its collections and found a special smoking pipe linked to Native Hawaiian culture from a burial cave in Hawaii. Starting April 1, 2026, this item can be returned to the Native Hawaiian community. This is part of a respectful effort to give back important cultural objects, with no money involved but lots of care and history.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Native Hawaiian group can request return
The American Museum of Natural History has identified a smoking pipe from Kukinumi (Kukui Umi) Cave, Hawaiʻi (burial dated about 1860–1870) as culturally affiliated with the Hui Iwi Kuamo`o. Repatriation of this associated funerary object may occur on or after April 1, 2026, and requests may be submitted by the identified Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations or by lineal descendants who show cultural affiliation; the museum received the pipe as part of an accession sold in 1946.
Handle object with pesticide caution
Museum records show past use of potentially hazardous pesticides on collections, and the museum advises that those handling this pipe follow the advice of industrial hygienists or medical personnel trained in occupational health or hazardous substances. This is a handling and safety advisory related to the object now eligible for repatriation.
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