MEDIA RELEASE

This Call for Claimants is hereby given in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3002(d) and its implementing regulations 43 CFR 10.4 and 5, and is requesting claimants of lineal and/or cultural affiliation to determine treatment and custody for human remains in the control of the US Army Garrison at Pohakuloa.

On Sept. 28, 2012 archaeologists inadvertently discovered disarticulated and fragmentary human skeletal remains during an archaeological inventory survey at Pohakuloa Training Area, Kaohe Ahuapuaa, Hamakua District.

The archaeologists determined the remains to be human and pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d) (1) USAG – Pohakuloa has presumed the remains to be of Native Hawaiian ancestry based upon their location in a lava tube with traditional archaeological materials, including a hearth and kukui nut shells.

The bones are located in two chambers of a lava tube and were left in place. No funerary objects, sacred objects or objects of cultural patrimony have been recovered. No construction projects are ongoing in the area.

Representatives of Native Hawaiian organizations and/or individuals that wish to claim lineal and/or cultural affiliation with the human remains are requested to contact Dr. Julie Taomia, Archeologist, Environmental Division, U.S. Army Garrison, Pohakuloa, P.O. Box 4607, Hilo, HI 96720 or by email at julie.m.taomia.civ@mail.mil before Nov. 15, 2012.