Lingle to talk to McCain
about Akaka bill support

Gov. Linda Lingle says that when she travels to Washington, D.C., in February, she plans to talk to U.S. Sen. John McCain about his opposition to legislation that would allow native Hawaiians to seek federal recognition.

McCain, who took over yesterday as head of the Indian Affairs Committee, said rather than pass the Akaka bill, he would prefer to increase funding for existing native Hawaiian programs.

"When Hawaii became a state, there was an implicit agreement at that time that native Hawaiians would not receive the same status as native Americans," McCain told Stephens Media Group's Washington bureau.

"I would be much more supportive if there was an increase in the budget which would reflect the needs of native Hawaiians than take it from the federally recognized tribes," McCain said.

Lingle said, "I haven't talked to him about this, but he is certainly someone on my visit list in February."

She will be attending the Bush inauguration later this month in Washington but will spend five days in Washington next month attending the annual National Governors Association conference.

Sen. Daniel Akaka said he was surprised by McCain's remarks and that he plans to talk to the Arizona Republican. Akaka said he still intends to reintroduce the bill.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairwoman Haunani Apoliona, who was in Washington this week with OHA administrator Clyde Namuo, said McCain is not informed about Hawaiian history.

"I don't know why he would separate Hawaiians from other indigenous groups," Apoliona said. "We are prepared to walk through the history and brief him or his staff on our perspective."