Backers complain measure misunderstood

The Maui News
Friday, June 09, 2006

By KRISTA WALTON, Staff Writer

The Senate's vote against the Akaka Bill on Tuesday left Native Hawaiian activists in Maui County disappointed – but many remain hopeful for the future.

"The defeat was a major setback – not only for Native Hawaiians, but for everyone who believes in justice for indigenous peoples," said Maui Sen. J. Kalani English, whose 6th District includes Hana, Molokai and Lanai. "Senator Akaka and his many allies have promised to reintroduce the measure, and they deserve our enthusiastic support."

The bill, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, would grant Native Hawaiians the same federal recognition and right to self-governance granted to Native American and Alaskan Native tribes. The bill originally was introduced in 2000 and was stalled in the Senate for some seven years. With a final vote of 56-41, the bill fell four votes short of the 60 votes needed to keep it alive.

Hawaiian rights supporters in Maui County said the bill was defeated because it was misunderstood and misrepresented.

"Most people don't understand it. We need more, clear information – information to be sure that we are doing the right thing for the Hawaiian nation, now and into the future," said Ed Lindsey, a Makawao cultural rights advocate. "I only wish that the Akaka Bill could have gone throughout the islands and been explained to all Hawaii's people, rather than have it be a part of a campaign blitz."

An opponent said the Senate decision was the best for Native Hawaiians, who should be seeking sovereignty, not recognition of the federal government.

"I'm really happy that it didn't pass, because it was just a reorganization act," said Hanohano Naehu, a sovereignty advocate with the Hawaiian Learning Center on Molokai.

Naehu did not support the Akaka Bill, saying it would categorize Hawaiians as an indigenous people of America.

"It would erase the fact that we were once an independent country, that we were shoulder to shoulder with other countries in the world, and it would make us classified as indigenous Americans: There's nothing further from the truth."

Naehu added that the long delay and compromises made on the bill in the Senate made it less effective.

"The bill lost so much strength anyway over the years. They were just trying to pass it to get something done," said Naehu. "The reorganization act gave us nothing. It took away more than what it would help us protect."

During the debate, opponents of the Akaka Bill argued that it could lead to race-based privileges in Hawaii and was unconstitutional.

Retired Maui Judge Boyd Mossman, a trustee with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs who was in Washington to lobby for the bill, said the opposition was based on misunderstanding.

"Senator Akaka and Senator Inouye gave excellent speeches, and the opposition claims of racial discrimination and unconstitutionality were repeated over and over." Mossman added, "They're simply not correct.

"I want this bill passed because Hawaiians stand a chance of losing anything in the way of benefits they have today, plus their identity as a people," he said. Mossman, whose term as an OHA trustee expires this year, said he will seek re-election to continue to fight for the Akaka Bill. OHA already is discussing strategies for reintroducing the bill in Congress, he said.

"This is not the end of the road for Akaka Bill nor for the continued existence of Native Hawaiians," he said.

Others on Maui also vowed to continue their fight for a bill that provides federal recognition of Native Hawaiian rights.

"I think people who have been fighting all along for their rightful share of this island state will continue fighting, and hopefully fighting together instead of apart," said Michael Minn, a Hana teacher and Hawaiian rights advocate.

Krista Walton can be reached at kwalton@mauinews.com.

Copyright © 2005 The Maui News.

Original article URL: http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=20498

Return to Sen. English Home Page - KalaniEnglish.com

Home Bills and Resolutions About Senator English Committees Community Profiles Newsletter Archive News Archive Capitol Web Site Media Photos

Connect with Senator English

OUR DISTRICT