Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 3, 1 April 2009 — Gambling issues in Akaka Bill clarified [ARTICLE]

Gambling issues in Akaka Bill clarified

Hawai'i's congressional delegation - U.S. Sens. Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye and Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono - introduced a slightly modified version of the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, also known as the Akaka Bill, on March 25. The modified bill clarifies that gambling will not be permitted under a Native Hawaiian Governing Entity, in accordance with Hawai'i state law. "As an indigenous people that exercised governance until the U.S. overthrow, Native Hawaiians deserve the same opportunity to preserve their eulture, language and traditions as indigenous people on the mainland. This change in the legislation should make the bill's intent clear and remove any distractions from its thoughtful consideration," the congressional delegation said in a joint statement. Otherthan the gambling clarification, the bill is identieal to the one introduced in February.

NŪHOU - NEWSBRIEFS