The U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Hawaiian Relations will hold four public gatherings on August 14-17 on the islands of Hawaii, Maui and Oahu to obtain input on the development and use of a Native Hawaiian organization notification list.

“The Office of Hawaiian Relations aims to help preserve and promote Hawaii’s natural and historic resources and the Native Hawaiian culture,” explains Kaiini Kaloi, director of the office. “The list will be used to assist the department in efforts to satisfy statutory notification obligations under laws such as the National Historic Preservation Act and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.”

These laws define Native Hawaiian organizations. The placement of an organization on the Native Hawaiian organization notification list will not be construed as recognition by the federal government that the group is a governmental, tribal or other type of entity. The meetings will explore how the list could best benefit the Native Hawaiian community.

The Office of Hawaiian Relations will make the list available to other federal agencies as a mechanism to assist them with their reasonable and good faith efforts to identify Native Hawaiian organizations that are to be notified or consulted with when required by statute.

Meeting Times and Places

Both oral and written input will be accepted at the hearings. In addition, those unable to attend the hearings may submit written comments by Oct. 17, 2006 to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Hawaiian Relations (OS/PHI), 1849 C St, NW, Mail Stop-3530, Washington, D.C. 20240.