Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 6, 1 June 2022 — Hawaiian Ancestral Human Remains and Treasures Repatriated from Ireland [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian Ancestral Human Remains and Treasures Repatriated from Ireland

By Aliee Malepeai Silbanuz Following ongoing dialogue with the Ofhce of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and Hui Iwi Kuamo'o, the National Museums Northern Ireland (NMNI) hosted an official handover ceremony at Ulster Museum in Belfast in May and successfully repatriated iwi kūpuna (ancestral Hawaiian human remains) and five mea makamae pili ali'i (treasures associated with ali'i) whieh were a part of the museums' World Cultures Collection. The repatriation process involved a private ceremony followed by a puhlie ceremony at Ulster Museum. Hawaiian representatives, NMNI colleagues, and delegates ff om the United States Embassy were in attendance. "The return of the iwi kūpuna and mea makamae pili ali'i to this delegation of Native Hawaiians, so that they may be returned home to Hawai'i, is an act of eompassion and understanding that is mueh needed and long overdue," said OHA Board Chair Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey. Following extensive research into the provenance of eaeh of the materials, it is believed that Gordon Augustus Thomson, who had travelled to Hawai'i Island in 1840, had removed iwi kūpuna from burial caves and donated them to the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society in 1857. The iwi kūpuna were included

in a 1910 donation to the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery, a precursor to NMNI. Kathryn Thomson, chief executive at NMNI said: "National Museums Northern Ireland believes it has legal and ethical responsibilities to redress the injustices shown to Native Hawaiian cultural values and traditions, and so through ongoing dialogue, it was agreed that these iwi kūpuna and mea makamae pili ali'i should be returned by repatriation to Native Hawaiians through the Oiīiee of Hawaiian Affairs, a self-governing corporate body of the State of Hawai'i. "We are re-evaluating our World Cultures Collection on an ongoing basis, to better understand the complex global stories of some 4,500 items - and how and why they eame to be in Belfast. We understand and respect cultural values and are in ongoing liaison with source eommunities and their representatives to establish if items within the collection ean and should be returned to their ancestral homes. We remain open to further repatriations as these engagements develop." The return of the iwi kūpuna and mea makamae pili ali'i has great significance on a cultural level for the people of Hawai'i. The five mea makamae pili ali'i are considered sacred by Native Hawaiians and incorporate either human hair, bone, or teeth. The use of human remains was done purposefully and with meaning to infuse objects with mana, spiritual power. The lei niho palaoa, whale tooth necklaces,

were traditionally provided to ali'i (chiefs) and worn around the neek to show a eonnection between the chiefly class and the akua (gods). The bracelet and fan intertwined with human hair were reserved for ali'i and used only during ceremonies rather than for everyday use. The wooden ipu kuha (spittoon) and ipu 'aina (scrap bowl) were made exclusively for ali'i so their attendants could carefully dispose of food scraps and bodily remains, lest the material fall into the hands of a kahuna 'anā'anā (sorcerer) and be used to harm or kill the chief. In modern times, Hawaiian leaders and cultural practitioners still revere the use

of such objects and typically or use them during ceremonies. The fan, in particular, is one of a very few early 19th century styles not typically available to Native Hawaiians today for ceremony, due to their rarity. On the same trip, the Hawaiian delegation also repatriated an iwi po'o (skull) ffom Surgeons' Hall Museums in Edinburgh, and engaged in repatriation eonsultations in London. The iwi kūpuna will be reburied on Moloka'i and Hawai'i Island from whieh they were taken. The five mea makamae pili ali'i will be properly stewarded by OHA. ■

Pictured L-R ūt the official ceremony at Ulster Museum are Kathryn Thompson, chief executive of NMNI; Hui Iwi Kuamo'o representatives ūane Uluwehi Maxwell, Mana Caceres, Kalehua Caceres and Starr Kalahiki; and Aaron Snipe of the U.S. Embassy in London. - Photo: Courtesy

Ipu kuha and ipu 'aina - Photos: Courtesy

f. r KOpe'e

A Lei niho palaoa

Pe'ahi