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Sovereignty
bill opposed by
some Hawaiians

Congress might block the
bill if it feels Hawaiians
are divided on the issue

By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

Some Hawaiians say they will come out in force to testify against any federal legislation that deals with sovereignty when Congress holds joint committee hearings here late next month.

That could spell trouble for the legislation, as opposition might convince Congress there is no consensus on sovereignty from the native community.

It also might show there is no need for quick passage of a bill that clarifies the political status of Hawaiians and sets up a process for sovereignty, as favored by Hawaii's congressional delegation.

A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, however, said today there has been an unprecedented level of community input on the bill before its introduction, and Akaka continues to welcome all comments on it.

"Now if you're coming (to hearings) just because you don't like the process or you don't like the United States, those views are welcome as well," said Paul Cardus, Akaka spokesman.

The Senate Indian Affairs and the House Resource committees have tentatively agreed to joint hearings statewide in Hawaii from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, Cardus said.

The bill is expected to be submitted to Congress early next week, when both Houses are in session.

"The legislation is there for comment, not as a take-it-or-leave-it, but what input can we get that can perhaps improve it or better reflect the consensus that exists in the community or that members of the community can widely agree on," Cardus said.

He stressed the ultimate decision about the relationship between native Hawaiians and the United States rests with the Hawaiian community working with the United States.

But U.S. involvement in Hawaiian independence is what bothers Kekuni Blaisdell of the Kanaka Maoli Tribunal Komike and many others.

"Well, I think people are feeling that something's being put over them," he said.

Blaisdell, a physician and longtime activist, predicts hundreds of kanaka maoli, or Hawaiians, will show up to oppose the measure because they feel it violates their basic rights toward self-determination.

"Should we kanaka maoli people permit this to happen without protest, we will have silently relinquished our claims to our inherent sovereignty as a people and over our national lands to the U.S., just as the 1993 apology resolution states we have never done," he said.

Henry Noa, director of the Reinstated Hawaiian Government, a group of about 1,500 members who claim to have restored the Hawaiian government, said the bill inappropriately categorizes Hawaiians with native Americans, a move that reduces their independence.

His group plans to testify against the measure as well.

"We're not equivalent to native Americans; we certainly have a different status than that," Noa said.

"We have a recognized nation with a distinct population, with a government that was illegally overthrown."

The proposed legislation, known as the Akaka bill, creates a Native Hawaiian office and task force to deal with federal coordination and policy on Hawaiian issues. It also gives Hawaiians a way to create a native governing body recognized as sovereign by the federal government.

That process of independence mirrors the work of the Native Hawaiian Convention.

The elected delegates are finishing draft constitutions based on two models of sovereignty, nation-within-a-nation and independence, which they plan to circulate within the Hawaiian community later this year for possible ratification.

Delegate Ikaika Hussey, convention media liaison, said the convention has not taken a position on Akaka's bill, but he acknowledged the sovereignty language in it is similar to what they are doing.

State Sen. Whitney Anderson (R, Kailua) said a Hawaiian bill should not be rushed this year over fear of a Republican administration next year.

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Holo I Mua Hawaiian Roundtable