Anahola residents Sondra and Michael Grace and Robin Danner automatically line up in different camps on U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka’s proposal for federal recognition of Native Hawaiians, an issue that has divided Hawaiians across the state. Danner, a supporter of
Anahola residents Sondra and Michael Grace and Robin Danner automatically line up in different camps on U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka’s proposal for federal recognition of Native Hawaiians, an issue that has divided Hawaiians across the state.
Danner, a supporter of the Akaka recognition bill, said the legislation would provide Hawaiians with a special political status with the United States and could open the door for Hawaiians to achieve independence.
Michael Grace calls the bill an “act of genocide against Hawaiians” and said it will stop the kanaka maoli, the aboriginal people of Hawai’i, from gaining independence.
Contending the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1893 and Hawaii’s annexation to the U.S. in 1898 were illegal, Sondra Grace said congressional legislation won’t affect a sovereign nation like Hawai’i.
The political ramifications of the bill are so far-reaching that the destiny of the Hawaiians as a people could be decided by the action of Congress, contend supporters and critics of the bill.
Congress did not act on the bill by the end of last year, partly because it focused its attention on matters of national security and international issues following September’s terrorist attacks.
But Akaka and Hawaii’s other U.S. senator, Daniel Inouye, said they will put the bill before the Senate this spring.
“The senator is optimistic it will come up for debate and vote, based on his meetings with Senate Majority Leader Sen. Tom Daschle,” said Paul Cardus, a Washington D.C.-based aide to Akaka.
The measure has drawn support from at least one of Hawaii’s two U.S. representatives, Patsy Mink. Neil Abercrombie, the other, couldn’t be reached for comment for this article.
Opponents of the latest version of the bill insisted public hearings should have been held before the measure went to Congress. Cardus said no hearings were held because the current bill reflects public comments during the hearings in 2000 for the first bill.
For the first bill, Akaka planned to attend public hearings on all the islands but couldn’t because of his recovery from hip surgery. As a result, hearings were held only on O’ahu.
At a meeting of Kaua’i residents, many people lodged opposition against the bill, claming it would prevent Hawaiians from achieving independence or self-sufficiency.
The measure failed for lack of support in Congress, partly due to its preoccupation with Florida’s presidential election count.
Republicans also feared funding for Native American programs could be diverted for programs for Hawaiians established under the bill.
The first bill was introduced in the106th Congress by Akaka and Inouye and was in response to a resolution signed in 1993 by then-President Clinton, apologizing for the U.S.-led overthrow of the Hawaiian
