CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Roger Takabayashi, Hawaii State Teachers Association president, spoke yesterday in support of the Akaka Bill as Hawaii State AFL-CIO President Harold Dias and union members listened. They said the measure benefits working-class people.

---

Union leaders
offer support
for Akaka Bill

State labor leaders threw together a last-minute message of support of the Akaka Bill before finding out that it would not go before the U.S. Senate today.

Labor organizations representing more than 100,000 members across the state gathered at Iolani Palace during yesterday's Labor Day holiday to urge the passage of the bill.

"The Akaka Bill gives native Hawaiians the political recognition they need and deserve to keep many worthwhile programs alive," said Harold Dias, president of the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, which represents 68 Hawaii labor unions.

"From the Hawaiian homelands to the programs administered by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs ... we're talking about hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of programs."

The bill will ultimately support the working men and women of Hawaii by saving these worthwhile programs and keeping the Hawaiian culture alive," Dias said.

Hurricane Katrina and the death of Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist postponed the Akaka Bill proceedings.

Labor officials said many of their members are native Hawaiians, and they agree with state and federal officials that the Akaka Bill best supports the state's working-class people.

According to officials for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, "All people deserve a better quality of life, and we are committed to working for justice in our communities."

"The overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1893 was wrong, and the Akaka Bill continues the process of reconciliation outlined in the Apology Bill passed by Congress over 10 years ago," the officials said.

Roger Takabayashi, president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, said: "Teachers teach our students to celebrate diversity and to respect other cultures. We teach them respect is a basic human and civil right. Supporting the Akaka Bill is a way for us to live what we teach."