Kerry gives support
to Akaka bill

Hawaii's GOP says the move signals
Kerry fears losing Hawaii in the election

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry pledged support yesterday for the Akaka bill, which would grant federal recognition of native Hawaiians.

A written statement from Kerry supporting the bill was promptly posted on the Democratic Party of Hawaii's Web site. Party Chairman Brickwood Galuteria declared that Kerry, as president, would protect native Hawaiian entitlements facing legal challenges.

Hawaii Republican Party Chairman Brennon Morioka said the release of Kerry's statement was politically motivated.

"To me this is an indication the Kerry campaign sees the election in Hawaii slipping," Morioka said.

Morioka noted that the Republican National Committee platform addresses native Hawaiian self-determination, a position that is supported by President Bush, while the Democratic National Committee platform is silent.

At the Republican National Convention in New York this summer, Gov. Linda Lingle said the national committee platform expresses support of native Hawaiian culture and language. It mentions Hawaiians along with native Alaskans and American Indians in reference to federal programs. But it does not mention the Akaka bill, which would extend federal recognition of Hawaiians as a native population, as the government already does for American Indians and native Alaskans.

Hawaii Democratic Party spokeswoman Donalyn Dela Cruz said the party is pleased with Kerry's statement but did not ask the Kerry-Edwards campaign for it. She said this year's Democratic National Committee platform does not mention native Hawaiian rights because it was already included in the national committee's 2000 platform.

"We already talked about it and brought it to the forefront, so our efforts are now with the Akaka bill," she said.

The bill won approval by a House committee last month. If it clears the House, it faces a battle in the Senate, where the Senate version of the bill has been stalled.