Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 2005 — Passage of Akaka Bill grants simple, profound justice for Hawaiians [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Passage of Akaka Bill grants simple, profound justice for Hawaiians

Aloha e na 'ōiwi 'ōlino, nā pulapula a Hāloa, mai Hawai'i i a Ni'ihau, a puni ke ao mālamalama. Mahalo, Ke Ali'i Maka'āinana Hawaiian Civic Club for mana'o in March's trustee eolumn. In our recent travel to Washington, D.C., for the March 1, 2005 Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on S. 147, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005, members of our 'ōpio Hawaiian Civic Club in the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, provided inspiring support by their presence in the Indian Affairs Committee Room. The spirit of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole, delegate to Congress, whose legacy this club represents was present among us along with the spirit of resolve and compassion of Queen Lili'uokalani. Ke Ali'i Maka'āinana members also opened the evening gathering of community and congressional representatives with Hawaiian protocol and chant whieh gave those in attendance more

reason to respect and experience our traditions. The hearing on March 1, 2005, for the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on S147, was limited to testimonies by speakers invited by Chairman John McCain. Our Alaskan native and American Indian 'ohana of the "North and the lower 48" spoke of their continuing support for the successful passage for Native Hawaiians of the Native Hawaiian Reorganization Act of 2005. A modification of language was suggested by Nalional Congress of American Indians board chair Tex Hall in order to further clarify for protection of federally funded Indian programs. In addition to the Hawai'i Congressman of the 2nd District, the Honorable Eni F.H. Faleomavaega provided testimony in support of S147. He said, "as an original eosponsor of HR 309, a eompanion bill to S147, I want to state my absolute support of the 'Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005' expressing the policy of the United States regarding the United

States relationship with Native Hawaiians and providing a process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing entity. First, I thank my good friends and colleagues from Hawai'i, Senators Akaka and Inouye, Neil Abercrombie and Ed Case, for their tireless, diligent efforts on this legislation. I also thank Governor Linda Lingle and Haunani Apoliona, the Chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, for appearing today in support of S147." Congressman Faleomavaega of American Sāmoa concludes his remarks with, "In passing the Apology Act (Puhlie Law 103-150 in whieh the United States apologized to the Hawaiian people for the illegal overthrow of their sovereign country, we here in Congress committed to a reconciliation process with the Hawaiian people. The bill introduced here today fulfills that promise. We have an opportunity here to right a longstanding injustice that has been perpetuated on the Native Hawaiian people ... This bill will restore a

measure of well-deserved autonomy to the Native Hawaiian people and provide a foundation for the reconciliation process." Governor Linda Lingle included the following in her testimony before the committee: "I am appearing before you on behalf of the people of Hawai'i. We are seeking justice for Native Hawaiian people, who have been made to wait too long for the kind of recognition that Congress has granted to America's other indigenous peoples. You are not being asked to extend the ability to establish a self-governing structure to Native Hawaiians because of their race. Rather you are being asked to do so because of their unique status as the indigenous people of a onee sovereign nalion to whom the United States has a recognized trust responsibility. "Passage of S. 147 would grant simple, but profound justice to the proud Native Hawaiian people whose future well-being is essential to the long-term well-being of the State of Hawai'i." 'O ia ho'i 'olua, ka pololei. 5/48 TJ

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Haunai Apoliona, MSW Trustee, At-large