Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 6, 1 Iune 2006 — Patience and persistence: Hoʻomanawanui a i mua! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Patience and persistence: Hoʻomanawanui a i mua!

Daūte Keala Carpenter TrustEE, O'ahu

Aloha mai kākou. If you are reading this article during the first week of lune, uncertainties still exist about the Native Hawaiian federal recognition hill known as the Akaka Bill. As you all know, the Akaka Bill (S . 147) was first introduced in 2000 and would establish a process for Hawaiians to form their own government, similar to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Yes, we Hawaiians have been patient for six long years. Last September a Senate vote on the Akaka Bill was anticipated but issues related to Hurricane Katrina took precedence and onee again action was delayed. Ho'omanawanui. Indeed, we Hawaiians have been patient. Sen. Akaka announced in mid-May that Majority Leader Bill Frist will petition for a procedural move known as cloture to bring the hill to the Senate floor when the Senate returns from their May recess. A cloture procedure forces a hill to the floor and opens the way for up to 30 hours of debate. As a people, Hawaiians need to focus our prayers and mana towards having the Akaka Bill heard and voted on in early lune. Congress returns from recess on lune 5, 2006. The Senate may vote immediately on cloture lune 6, 2006. If all goes as well, the Akaka Bill could be debated as early as lune 8, 2006. These dates are very important dates for Hawaiians and for all those who support Hawaiians. Mark your calendars, watch your daily news, read the other newspapers and spread the news to your 'ohana and friends. If success is granted in the Senate, the

same prayers and mana will be needed for the House. Keep on the path of 'onipa'a and continue to be informed about the Akaka Bill as it moves through Congress. Congress will recess in early October and if the Senate and House have not passed the Akaka Bill - along with President Bush signing it into law - when Congress ends the 2006 session, we Hawaiians as a people will have to start all over next year. The importance of the Akaka Bill remains stronger than ever. If you still don't know what the Akaka hill is, it's not too late to be educated. Call us at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs at 594-1888 and ask to speak with a staff member in OHA's Hawaiian Governance hale or eheek out OHA websites at www.oha. org or www.nativehawaiians.com. If you are not the only member in your 'ohana or organization that needs to be educated about Native Hawaiian federal recognition, OHA is here to assist eaeh and every one of you to get educated on this important issue. So, what if the Akaka Bill doesn't pass in 2006? Well for now, things may not change immediately for agencies like the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). But, should the several lawsuits pending succeed, things will change drastically. Hawaiians will have mueh to lose in both land and revenues! Legal attempts to diminish Hawaiian rights and native rights in general threaten to undermine the very existence of OHA and DHHL. Of course, we will strongly continue to pursue federal recognition. Therefore, we'll stay the course - Ho'omanawanui a i mua! As always, my staff and I invite your comments on the above or any other concerns within our purview. My OHA access numbers are: phone 594-1854, fax 594-0210 and email address dantec@oha. org. Mālama pono a hui hou. E3

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