Abercrombie Gov. Linda Lingle's trip to Washington, D.C. next month to testify before Congress in support of federal recognition for native Hawaiians won't hurt, but it is not necessary, says U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie.
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By Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.com
That's because the problem with the legislation, known as the Akaka bill, is with the Bush administration and not the Congress, Abercrombie said yesterday following Lingle's State of the State speech at the state Capitol.
The Akaka bill was introduced in 2000 but has stalled in the U.S. Senate. The U.S. House had passed a similar measure and can do so again, said Abercrombie, who added the measure will be reintroduced this year in the 108th Congress.
"I don't see any reason to be testifying to Congress. In fact, I'm not sure there's any necessity to do that," said Abercrombie, D-Hawaii.
"But it's being held up because the Bush administration does not want to have to deal with the issue, which in all likelihood would pass with a veto-proof majority," he said.
Just as she emphasized during her gubernatorial campaign and inauguration, Lingle touched on the state's commitments to native Hawaiians in her speech yesterday.
The Republican governor reiterated she'll travel to Washington with members of the Hawaiian community to meet with Bush officials and to testify before Congress on why passage of the bill is important to all the people of Hawaii.
Locally, Lingle pledged to work with the Legislature and the native Hawaiian community to finally resolve the ceded lands issue, and noted a recent agreement to pay $10.3 million in undisputed ceded land revenue payments to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
And she acknowledged the effort to help Hawaii's native people must not inadvertently drive a wedge between Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian communities.
"Her speeches continue to reiterate commitment toward recognition and to make good on the ceded lands revenue payments, as well as to ensure that the ceded lands issues can come to some resolution that is good for Hawaiian people," said Haunani Apoliona, OHA chairwoman. "So she's continued to touch on that."
Apoliona said the immediate transfer of those undisputed funds -- which OHA estimates at $12 million and not $10.3 million -- would be a very significant first step in showing the state's obligation toward Hawaiians.
Lingle has said she'll transfer the money once the state attorney general has worked out a mechanism to protect it from lawsuits filed by people -- both Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian -- who oppose the plan.
Retired attorney H. William Burgess, who represents a group of plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of OHA and the Hawaiian Homes Commission, sent a letter to each member of the Legislature, to OHA attorneys and to the state attorney general's office that questioned the legal authority to resume the payments.
"We urge the governor to reconsider approving or authorizing disbursement of the $10.3 million or any other amount of ceded lands moneys, or any other amounts as the equivalent of ceded lands moneys, to OHA," Burgess wrote.
"We also urge all executive branch officials and OHA trustees not to participate in, aid or abet this illegal scheme."
Burgess wants a response from OHA and state attorneys by Friday or the group will "proceed with the steps necessary" to protect the interests of the plaintiffs, other citizens and taxpayers.
Office of the Governor
Rep. Neil Abercrombie
