By Brian Charlton
Associated Press

Hawai'i Sen. Daniel Akaka plans to reintroduce his bill today that would grant federal recognition to Native Hawaiians, hoping it will have a better chance of passage with a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress.

The effort comes seven months after the bill failed to get a final vote in the Republican-controlled Senate. All votes against considering it were from Republicans.

The legislation, nicknamed the Akaka bill, is part of a seven-year push for legislation to recognize Native Hawaiians as indigenous inhabitants of the 50th state - a legal status similar to that of American Indians and Alaska Natives.