Clinton may create new office for Hawaiians

HONOLULU (AP) – U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka says time is of the essence as the

Clinton administration works to establish a Native Hawaiian Office within the

Department of Interior. The Hawaii Democrat said Tuesday that he learned of the

effort last week from President Clinton’s top aides. The Clinton administration

has been very receptive to Hawaiian issues over the past eight years, but the

next administration might be less so, Akaka said. Akaka said he feels it is

urgent to move ahead with the effort to create the new office before Clinton’s

term expires. A permanent federal office devoted to Hawaiian issues would

continue on no matter who succeeds Clinton.

The move to establish the

office stems from reconciliation efforts with Hawaiians as called for in the

1993 U.S. apology for the role of Americans in the 1893 overthrown of the

Hawaiian monarchy.