Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 8, 1 August 2000 — Hawaiian recognition before Congress [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian recognition before Congress

f ENATOR DANIEL Akaka has, on 1 behalf of himself and Sen. Daniel Inouye, introduced before the United lStates Senate a bill that would clarify W the relationship between the federal government and the Hawaiian people. On the same day, July 20, Representative Neil Abercrombie introduced an identical eompanion bill before the House. The legislation would establish in the Department of the Interior a Special Trustee of Native Hawaiian Affairs and, within the Justice Department, an official to assist that office. As introduced, the bill affirms the status of Hawaiians as an indigenous people with whom the United States has a special trust relationship. The bill calls for the development of a roll of Hawaiians eligible to participate in the election of a Native Hawaiian interim governing eouneil charged with drafting the governing documents of an elected Native Hawaiian goveming body. "Since I have served in the Congress," Sen. Inouye said in his supporting speech, "the United States' policy has been one of self-determination. We now deal with Ameriean Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages on a sovereign-to-sovereign basis. I think this is appropriate policy. Unfortunately, Native Hawaiians have not had the opportunity to fully enjoy this self-determination policy because we have failed to establish the framework for a government-to-govern-ment relationship. This bill would provide that framework. The bill is just, right and long overdue." The complete bill ean be viewed at www.OHA.org. Sen. Akaka has developed a 12-minute video on the bill. The script ean be accessed at http//akaka. senate.gov. ■