Island Museum Ships Hawaiian Canoe and Skirt Back to Pacific Roots
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 shows the museum’s commitment to doing the right thing.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Three Hawaiian sacred items to be returned
The Martha's Vineyard Museum intends to return three sacred Hawaiian objects—a canoe, a grass skirt with tapa cloth, and a poi pounder. The repatriation may occur on or after May 26, 2026.
Museum finds items are sacred and affiliated
The Martha's Vineyard Museum determined the three objects are specific ceremonial items needed for present-day traditional Native American religious practice and found a cultural affiliation with the Hui Iwi Kuamo[revaps]o. That determination supports repatriation under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
Who can request repatriation and how
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in the notice may submit a written request for repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Requests must be sent to Anna Barber at the Martha's Vineyard Museum (151 Lagoon Pond Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568) and repatriation to an approved requestor may occur on or after May 26, 2026; competing requests will be resolved by the museum and joint requests count as a single request.
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