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Mink says
governing body
proposed in Akaka
bill should be
considered first

She suggests an outline
of governance be prepared
prior to federal recognition

---

By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

"Shall the native Hawaiian people establish a governing body which can have a political relationship with the United States?"

That's the question U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink believes all Hawaiians need to answer first before anyone moves forward with federal recognition of Hawaiians.

Mink, who waited until after yesterday's final congressional hearing before issuing her position, said she joined those who called for a referendum to see whether a governing entity as proposed in the bill should be created prior to recognition.

"Instead of a shouting match among friends, let us see whether this idea has majority support or not," Mink said.

Mink acknowledged that her idea does not have the support of the proposed reconciliation process by the Clinton administration or of others from Hawaii's delegation. She suggested that if the Akaka bill moves forward, it include a referendum provision, as well as a call to Hawaiians to organize to prepare and present to the U.S. government an organic document providing its governance.

"If and when the native Hawaiians should organize and unify around a governing body, it will as some witnesses noted, eliminate the need for OHA, and could also eventually lead to the transfer of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to this new governing body, eliminating the state from both responsibilities," she said.

The weeklong joint U.S. Senate-House hearing concluded yesterday in Honolulu with a tired U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye saying it's been five days of high emotion and great passion that pitted different philosophies on the political status of Hawaiians.

"I just hope that when we leave here, we leave here with some sense of civility and friendship," said Inouye, referring to the vocal opponents of the measure who disrupted the hearings throughout the week.

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka said the Senate Indian Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the bill on Sept. 13. In his closing statement, Akaka said he respected the array of views heard this week and reiterated the bill does not prevent others from pursuing alternatives on the international level.

The legislation is important not only to native Hawaiians but to all people in Hawaii because it provides a way to resolve many long-standing issues facing Hawaiians, he said.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie continues to discuss the bill with the chairman of the House Resources Committee and hopes the bill will be passed before Congress adjourns in October.