Akaka, Inouye
change native
recognition bill

By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

Native Hawaiians would not be allowed to use the Akaka bill, if it passes Congress, to open up gaming reservations in the islands or to claim eligibility into programs offered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Those are among the changes to the measure made yesterday by U.S. Sens. Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye.

The Hawaii senators introduced a modified version of the federal recognition bill yesterday with three major changes. Most significantly, the new version deletes the prescribed reorganization process for a new native Hawaiian governing entity. The reorganization process was the most controversial part of it because it mandates how a new Hawaiian governing body was to be formed.

Akaka said he agreed to remove that part of the bill after reviewing testimony from last summer's joint Senate-House hearings in Hawaii and recommendations from colleagues.

He and Inouye also agreed to add language to the bill that explicitly states neither gaming in Hawaii, using the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act nor eligibility for programs under the Bureau of Indian Affairs is authorized.

"These modifications reflect the consensus in our delegation that the reorganization process must be determined by the native Hawaiian community," Akaka said.

"We are confident that improvements made to the legislation will strengthen our efforts to work with the native Hawaiian community, the Bush administration, the state of Hawaii and provide Hawaii's indigenous peoples with the opportunity to formally engage in a government-to-government relationship with the United States," he said.

As modified, the Akaka bill provides a process for federal recognition of a native Hawaiian governing entity. It established an office within the Department of the Interior to focus on Hawaiian issues and to serve as a liaison between Hawaiians and the federal government.

Finally, the measure established an intra-agency coordinating group made up of officials from various federal agencies that administer programs and set policies affecting native Hawaiians.

Akaka said the goal of the legislation remains the same.

"Our objective has not changed," he said.