Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 11, 1 November 2007 — AKAKA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AKAKA

The ayes have it! Akaka Bill passes the House

By Crystal Kua Directur uf Cummunicatiūns The spotlight now turns to the U.S. Senate, after the U.S. House of Representatives voted 261 to 153 on Oct. 24 to approve the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2007. The vote fell largely along party lines, with just one Democrat voting against the hill (Rep. Maxine Waters of California) and 39 Republicans voting in favor. As it happened, the House's vote on the measure was its l,000th of the current legislative session. "We've made significant progress in promoting individual opportunity and self-detennina-tion," U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie said of the body's track record this year, "(but) none more important than the Akaka Bill." "I am very proud to have had the opportunity to co-introduce this hill and to argue for it on the floorof theU.S. House,"U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono said. "The resounding vote supporting passage shows that the majority recognize that

justice for Native Hawaiians is long overdue. This is a victory for all the people of Hawai'i." The House approved the hill onee before, in 2000. The hill, H.R. 505, would set up the framework to fonn a Native Hawaiian governing entity that could be formally recognized by the federal govermnent. "Today's vote in the House is an important step toward the goal of achieving our inherent right to self-determination, and a better Hawai'i," said Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson Haunani Apoliona. The debate on the House floor took plaee as Hawai'i residents were driving in morning rush hour. OHA's radio show, Nā 'Ōiwi 'Ōlino, piped in live audio of CSPAN coverage of the floor debate for listeners. Hirono said the hill embodies "the hope of an indigenous people to control their own fate," a desire that stretches back to the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom. "This is a historic vote, and one that helps to perpetuate righteous-

ness by righting a historic wrong," Hirono said. Meanwhile, Republican Lynn Westmoreland (R-Georgia) opposed the hill, calling it "divisive." "This hill will not only create a new race-based government, but it will allow rights and privileges to Native Hawaiian descendants throughout the United States that their neighbors and friends throughout this country do not enjoy," Westmoreland said. But fellow Republican Tom Cole of Oklahoma said concerns of setting Native Hawaiians apart in a separate category are unfounded, because Congress has already passed more than 160 laws addressing Native Hawaiians, including laws recognizing the

United States' political, legal and trust relationship with Native Hawaiians. "Despite what some say, this hill will not allow the Native Hawaiian governing body to establish gaming facilities in the state of Hawai'i; it will not drain resources currently allocated to Native American tribes (or) Alaskan Natives or threaten their interest in any way," Cole said. Abercrombie said that the hill is enabling legislation. "This creates the opportunity for Native Hawaiians to take responsibility for their own actions," he said. Like Native Americans and Alaskan Natives, Native See AKAKA on page 2G

NŪ HOU • NEWS

[?]

■

AKAKA

CūntinuEd fram page 09 Hawaiians are inherently sovereign as indigenous native people, Hirono said. "They desire the right to exercise management over their own affairs and land." The next step is for the U.S. Senate to take up an identical hill. The hill has stalled before in the Senate, whieh in lune 2006 eame within four votes of positioning the measure for a floor vote. "(The) House action provides great momentum in our effort

to extend federal recognition to Hawaii's indigenous peoples," said the bill's namesake, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka. "I was thrilled to see bipartisan support for this long-needed legislation that underscores our ongoing efforts toward reconciliation across our islands." OHA Chairperson Apoliona warned that opponents of the hill will gear up and intensify their efforts to defeat the measure in the Senate. "Expect to hear the Grassroot Institute types repeat all the false claims and scare tactics; that the hill will result in secession, bring gambling and result

in residents losing their private property," she said. "None of that is true, and they know it, but they will continue claiming it because it scares people and makes for a good headline." Another obstacle for the hill is the White House. Earlier this week, the administration's Office of Budget and Management eame out in opposition to H.R. 505 and said that President Bush's senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill. "The Administration strongly opposes any bill that would formally divide sovereign United States power along suspect lines of race and ethnicity," the

OMB 's statement of administration policy said. OHA Administrator Clyde Nāmu'o said that OHA was provided a draft of the Administration's position on the bill, so the formalizing statement of administration policy was not a surprise. "We are still hopeful that the governor will be able to eonvince the President that this legislation is good for Hawaiians and good for Hawai'i," Nāmu'o said. Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republiean, supports the Akaka Bill and has testified in favor of the measure. □