Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 2000 — Akaka: Time to correct injustice [ARTICLE]

Akaka: Time to correct injustice

Editor's note: Following is the text ofSen. Akaka's address to the United States Senate when he introduced S. 2899, a bill providingfor recognition ofNative Hawaiians as the indigenous people ofHawai 'i and a frameworkfor establishing a Native Hawaiian governing body: 11 i 1 R. PRESIDENT, I stand ■ ■ before you today to intro1111 duce a bill on behalf of I W 1 myself and my dear friend I f land colleague, Sen. Inouye, that is of great significance to the indigenous peoples of Hawai'i — the Native Hawaiians. This measure clarifies the political relationship between Native Hawaiians and the United States. For years, Congress has legislated on behalf of Native Hawaiians as the aboriginal, indigenous, native peoples of Hawai'i. This measure clarifies that political relationship and provides a process for Native Hawaiians to form a Native Hawaiian governing body to engage in a govern-ment-to-government relationship with the United States. 'The United States has declared a special responsibility for the welfare of the native peoples of the United States, including Native Hawaiians. This relationship has been aeknowledged by the United States since the inception of Hawai'i's status as a terri-

tory. This relationship was most explicitly alfirmed by the enactment of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, whieh set aside 200,000 acres of land in Hawai'i for homesteading by Native Hawaiians. Legislative history clearly shows that in addressing this situation, Congress based this action and subsequent legislation on the constitutional precedent in programs enacted for the benefit of American Indians. Since Hawai'i's admission into the Union, Congress has continued to legislate on behalf of Native Hawaiians as indigenous peoples. Native Hawaiians have been included as Native Americans in a number of federal statutes whieh have addressed the conditions of Native Hawaiians. A large portion of the discussion has centered around the history of Hawai'i's indigenous peoples and the United States' role in that history. "In 1993, P. L. 103-150, the Apology Resolution, extended an apology on behalf of the United States to the native people of Hawai'i for the United States' role in the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i. The Apology Resolution also expressed the eommitment of Congress and the president to acknowledge the ramifications of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i and to support reconciliation efforts between the United States and

Native Hawaiians. The process of reconeilialion is ongoing. "Mr. President, this legislation is important not only to Native Hawaiians, but to all people in Hawai'i. This measure provides the process to begin resolving many longstanding issues facing Hawai'i's indigenous peoples and the State of Hawai'i. In addressing these issues, we have begun a process of healing, a process of reconciliation not only with the United States but within the State of Hawai'i. The essence of Hawai'i is characterized not by the beauty of its islands, but by the beauty of its people. The State of Hawai'i has recognized, acknowledged and acted upon the need to preserve the culture, tradition, language and heritage of Hawai'i's indigenous peoples. This measure furthers these actions. "Mr. President, the clarification of the poliheal relationship between Native Hawaiians and the United States is one that has been long in coming and is well deserved. Unfortunately, the history and the timing of Hawai'i's relationship to the United States has not provided the appropriate structure for a government-to-gov-ernment relationship between Hawai'i's indigenous native peoples and the United States. The time has eome to correct this injustice." ■