Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 2013 — Akaka: Hawaiian roll is key to federal recognition [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Akaka: Hawaiian roll is key to federal recognition

By Karin Stanton Former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka is confident Native Hawaiians will receive the federal recognition they deserve and views the Kana'iolowalu registration eampaign as a necessary step. "It's very important in identifying and classifying all those who want to be known as Hawaiian. We need this step," he said. "When the state Legislature passed this bill in 201 1, it showed that lawmakers are focused on this issue." Akaka spoke about the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, whieh is leading the effort, during a recent appearance at Mauna Lani Resort's monthly storytelling and entertainment event. The Kana'iolowalu project aims to create a base roll of Native Hawaiians - a registry of individuals who may then participate in the formation of a sovereign govemment. It also gathers signatures from Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians on petitions declaring support for the reunification of Native Hawaiians in the self-recognition of Native Hawaiians' unrelinquished sovereignty. More than 9,300 people have signed up since July 2012, far short of the campaign's yearlong goal of 200,000. At an OHA board meeting in February, the eommission attributed this in part to people wondering why they need to register again if they had already signed the Kau Inoa registry, and the laek of imminent threats to Native Hawaiian programs, such as lawsuits, whieh creates a lesser sense of urgency. Registration has been extended until Jan. 19, 2014, the commission said. Akaka, who has been working on federal recognition for Hawaiians for more than a decade, said he was proud to be among the first to register. "After 12 years of working

toward a federal relationship with the U.S. government, it's about parity . . . with other native groups," he said. Akaka was joined on his Hawai'i Island visit by commission Chairman John Waihe'e. "We're a unique people and we have something special to offer the world," Waihe'e said. "The missing pieee was Hawaiians getting their own act together. This is it." Akaka, who retired in January, said he was repeatedly thwarted in getting his federal bill to be heard by his fellow lawmakers. "I've been trying to educate my colleagues about Hawai'i and why

we need a formal relationship," he said. "I know if I could have gotten it to the (Senate) floor, it would have passed. Now it's time for the next generation to take it on." That task is not just for lawmakers, he said, but also a mission for every Native Hawaiian. "This young generation needs to learn the spirit of Hawai'i and apply that spirit in their work for the future," he said. "We want to keep the spirit of Hawai'i and spread it around the country." Lei Kihoi, the Hawai'i Island representative on the commission, said she has been pleased with the response. However, Kihoi said, the campaign must continue to reach out to Neighbor Island residents and Hawaiians who live on the eontinent and around the globe. "We have a lot of Hawaiians out there and we want them all in our nation," she said. "We're continuing the efforts of Sen. Akaka. We're not going to let this issue go away." For more information or to register, visit hawaiianroll.org. ■ Karin Stanton, aformerreporter/ editor at West Hawai'i Today, worksfor the Associated Press and Hawai'i 24/7.

This young generation needs to learn the spirit of Hawai'i and apply that spirit in their work for the future ... We want to keep the spirit of Hawai'i and spread it around the country." — Former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.

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In Kohala, Native Hawaiian Roll Commission Chairman John Waihe'e, center, and retired U.S. Sen. ūaniel Akaka, right, discussed the Kana'iolowalu campaign with host Danny Kaniela Akaka. - Photo: Mn Stanton