Recognize
By ddepledge
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, has slipped language into a draft of the interior appropriations bill that would federally recognize Native Hawaiians like American Indian tribes.
A Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill has stalled in the U.S. Senate for a decade, and advocates are shifting strategy, trying to advance key provisions of the bill in pieces. The bill is known as the Akaka bill for its main sponsor, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.
The language in the interior appropriations bill builds off a state Native Hawaiian recognition bill approved by lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. Neil Abercrombie this year.
“The Hawaii congressional delegation is committed to federally recognizing Native Hawaiians in the 112th Congress, with the strong support of the governor and Hawaii State Legislature,” Peter Boylan, a spokesman for Inouye, said in a statement. “We will continue to pursue a variety of options to effectuate passage.”
Inserting the language into a spending bill may make it easier to advance than forcing another debate on a stand-alone Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill. But opponents have already flagged the language. One told Hawaii Reporter that allowing Hawaiians to be recognized as an Indian tribe would involve “all the public expense and jurisdictional nightmares that go with that status.”
Political Radar
October 25th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
If they want to recognize Hawaiians, then why are they instead recognizing the Akaka Tribe? This is a contradiction.
October 26th, 2011 at 8:34 am
As this ddepledge blog mentioned, there’s a very detailed news report on Hawaii Reporter providing links to the actual language buried deep inside an appropriations bill. It would simply declare that the state-recognized tribe under Hawaii Act 195 of 2011 would now be federally recognized, and would be free to do whatever it wants under the authority given to it now or in the future by the very compliant state legislature. But what makes this even more dangerous than the Akaka bill is that it would bypass the protections and restrictions in the Akaka bill that limit the tribe’s authority. Thus the tribe would be immediately empowered with all the authority of any federally recognized tribe, regardless of anything the state legislature might try to do to stop it. So once again Inouye is trying to force a federal mandate down the throats of Hawaii’s people, using stealth tactics. Fortunately the Republicans in the Senate and House are now aware of Inouye’s dishonorable stealth language, and will rip that language right out of the bill before it gets passed.
October 26th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
lingle plans to use the Akaka Bill as her support for running in the Senate. Mazie Hirono needs to grab a part of this and run with it to win against lingle. case should also if he wants to save face from Senator Inouye.
October 27th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
If you are not recognized by the Akaka Bill, you are a Haole. A foreigner. I too will not be recognized.
November 21st, 2011 at 3:23 pm
It’s well known Hawaiians have been treated unfair for generations, much like the Native American Indians. Whether you are recognized or not why deprive a race of rights deserved because of unfair treatment by government. Hawaiian’s are asking to be treated like other Native American tribes that endured government stress. I hope these legislators move swiftly, or Hawaii might not see the equality it deserves.