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Federal officials in the White House and elsewhere are eager to help native Hawaiians set up a government-to-government relationship similar to those of American Indians and Alaska Natives, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka said.

That said, members of Hawaii's congressional delegation say they must remain committed to introducing a bill this month that recognizes Hawaiians as a native people, despite concern that the broader Hawaiian community hasn't been given a chance to provide input on the draft bill.

"The Clinton administration supports native Hawaiians as an indigenous, aboriginal peoples," Akaka said yesterday. "The time to move to clarify the political relationship is now. We must not let this window of opportunity close."

Akaka and U.S. Reps. Neal Abercrombie and Patsy Mink met with a working group of Hawaiian leaders at the Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawaii-Manoa to gather input on the draft federal legislation. The delegation will meet tomorrow on the matter with state leaders at the Capitol.

Akaka emphasized that the bill's introduction doesn't mean it is finalized and that the Hawaiian community can't have further input. Rather, there is ample opportunity throughout the legislative process to amend the bill, which itself simply sets the stage for federal recognition. The proposal does not discuss lands, reparations or blood quantum, which are issues that will be resolved in future steps, he said.

"We can only reach step two, however, if the native Hawaiian community is ready to move forward," Akaka said.

Abercrombie said the bill sets up the foundation from which to build the trust relationship between the United States and native Hawaiians. While there is no hostility toward such legislation in Congress, it might help if the bill was attached to another measure because it may be easier to pass than a free-standing bill on federal recognition of Hawaiians, he said.

Working group members support solidifying the trust relationship but don't want it to turn into federal wardship of Hawaiians.

Also, some want the proposed federal Office of Native Hawaiian Affairs to be housed within the U.S. Department of Justice and not the Department of Interior, given that the U.S. Solicitor General in legal briefs in the Rice vs. Cayetano appeal has stated that the U.S. has a trust obligation to Hawaiians.

Others in attendance yesterday criticized the working group and the delegation for infringing upon their sovereign right toward self-determination. Akaka, however, said he doesn't believe his efforts impede those who seek sovereignty at another level, such as under international law.

The delegation would like to get the bill passed during this session of Congress, which ends in October. They say they fear a new administration next year may not be as receptive to the bill as the Clinton administration.

Holo I Mua Hawaiian Roundtable The Star-Bulletin gathered 10 Hawaiian leaders for a timely dialogue about what's next for Hawaiians in the wake of Rice vs. Cayetano. Representing various views within the Hawaiian community, the participants were provocative and candid during a 90-minute discussion on March 13, 2000. To read a full transcript of the discussion, Click Here You can also hear the audio recording of the discussion as well as view a panoramic photo of the participants.