More debate to comeBY LESTER CHANG TGI Staff Writer The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed a controversial bill that would establish a formal relationship between Native Hawaiians and the federal government. The U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved a
More debate to comeBY LESTER CHANG
TGI Staff Writer
The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed a
controversial bill that would establish a formal relationship between Native
Hawaiians and the federal government.
The U.S. Senate Indian Affairs
Committee approved a similar bill Sept. 14, and the legislation will be put
before the full Senate later, said Sandy Skousen, press secretary for Sen.
Daniel Inouye (D-Hawai’i), from Washington, D.C.
The legislation, however,
has come under attack from advocates for independence.
Critics on Kaua’i
have said the measure would “exterminate” the Kanaka maoli, the aboriginal
people of Hawai’i.
Since hearings on the House bill were held on O’ahu in
August, the bill has been refined and changed, according to Paul Cardus,
spokesman for Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawai’i), who proposed the
legislation.
“But,” Cardus said, “the basic intention of the bill is the
same: To authorize the process for the reorganization of the Native Hawaiian
government and provide recognition of the Native Hawaiian government by the
U.S. for the purpose of carrying on a government-to-government
relationship.”
Yesterday, Akaka expressed his elation over the passage of
the bill and thanked Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-1st District), House Resources
Committee Chairman Don Young and Rep. Patsy Mink (D-2nd District) for their
support.
“It reflects the hard work put into drafting, amending and
refining the legislation by our (congressional) delegation, the working groups,
the Native Hawaiian community, the White House and the Interior and Justice
departments,” Akaka said.
The bill moved quickly through the process due to
support from Native American Indians and Alaska natives, Akaka said.
Akaka
said he and Inouye are “considering all possible options to get this bill
through the Senate and the president’s desk.”
Critics have said bills would
remove any chance of the resurrection of the Hawaiian monarchy.
Some
Kanaka maoli reject the proposal calling for a nation within a nation, much as
what native American Indians have in reservations on the U.S.
mainland.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext.
225) and lchang@pulitzer.net
