Akaka bill supporters
hopeful despite losses

Despite this election's Republican gains in Congress, supporters of federal recognition for native Hawaiians say they are still optimistic the Akaka bill will come up for a Senate vote by late summer.

But there is concern about the loss of key Democratic supporters, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle.

The South Dakota lawmaker and four other Democratic senators were unseated, giving Republicans a 55-44 edge (with one independent). The new House makeup also favors Republicans, 231-204.

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), said he is confident bipartisan support will overcome the Senate's Republican majority.

The bill has bipartisan support in the House and Senate and is backed by both Hawaii's Democratic congressional delegation and Republican Gov. Linda Lingle.

"We need just 51 votes to pass" in the Senate, Akaka said. "I think it will go well."

Before the elections, Akaka expected the bill to come to a vote this August. On Saturday he said that he is sticking to that time line.

The Akaka bill, introduced to Congress in 2000, would establish an office in the Department of Interior to address native Hawaiian issues, and create an interagency group to administer programs for native Hawaiians.

Under the bill, the federal government would recognize Hawaiians -- as it does American Indians and native Alaskans -- as a native population.

"The Akaka bill's been -- throughout its four years -- quite bipartisan, with support from both side of the aisles," said Robin Danner, president of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.

"I just don't feel that the November elections ... are really likely to change that agreement," she said. "I think the bill will remain bipartisan."

Danner also said freshman Republican senators brought in next year will not have the political clout to make a difference, even if they oppose the Akaka bill.

Both Danner and Akaka also said a pledge in this year's session by two key Republicans -- Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona and Pete Domenici of New Mexico -- to drop their blockage of the sovereignty measure was a show of how support for the Akaka bill has not stuck to party lines.

Tony Sang, chairman of the State Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations, said Akaka bill supporters have worked with Republicans and Democrats for years to convince them that the bill "will help native Hawaiians."

Danner also acknowledged that bringing the Akaka bill to a Senate vote will not be easy, and the floor will have "to be gained one Republican at a time."

She said she is not as concerned about the House, where the Akaka bill "has a history of doing well."

"It passed the full House the first year it was introduced," she said.

Akaka spokesman Paul Cardus said the biggest hurdle will be making the bill a priority for new senators, some of whom might not be familiar with Hawaii's history.

"Because we have so many members, there's a lot of educating to do," Cardus said.

On the plus side, he said, former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, a bill supporter, will be returning to his post.

Also, Cardus said he is hoping to see support for the legislation from Sen. Barack Obama. The newly elected Illinois Democrat grew up in the islands and attended Punahou School.

"I think all in all," Cardus said, "we are very optimistic while knowing that there's a lot of work ahead."

Meanwhile, Akaka said President Bush remains the variable.

"I'm just hoping that the Bush administration will support it," he said. "We have really not heard any commitment of support."

But some say it is a good sign that Bush has not come out with an opinion on the bill.

"No news is good news," Sang said.