U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), chair of the Task Force on Native Hawaiian Issues, and U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) today introduced legislation to clarify the legal and political relationship that the United States has with Native Hawaiians as the aboriginal, indigenous peoples of Hawaii. Representative Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives. The measure affirms the United States' special trust relationship to promote the welfare of Native Hawaiians, reaffirms the Constitutional authority of Congress to address the conditions of Native Hawaiians, and responds to desire of the Native Hawaiian people to exercise their inherent rights to self-determination and self-governance. The bill establishes a process within the framework of federal law for Native Hawaiians to reorganize a governing body to engage in a government-to-government relationship with the United States.

"The United States has declared a special responsibility for the welfare of the Native peoples of the United States, including Native Hawaiians," Senator Akaka noted. "This relationship has been acknowledged by the United States since the inception of Hawaii's status as a territory. The clarification of the political relationship between Native Hawaiians and the United States is one that has been long in coming and is well-deserved. The history and the timing of Hawaii's admission to the United States, unfortunately, did not provide the appropriate structure for a government-to-government relationship between Hawaii's indigenous native peoples and the United States. The time has come to correct this injustice."

"Since I have served in Congress, the United States' policy toward its native people has been one of self-determination," Senator Inouye said. "We now deal with American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages on a sovereign-to-sovereign basis. I think this is the appropriate policy. Unfortunately, Native Hawaiians have not had the opportunity to fully enjoy this self-determination policy because we have failed to establish the framework for a government-to-government relationship. This bill would provide that framework. The bill is just, right, and long overdue."

Over the last several months the Task Force on Native Hawaiian Issues received considerable input from the Native Hawaiian community and the four working groups: Native Hawaiian community, State of Hawaii, White House and Federal officials, and Native American community/constitutional scholars. The consultations demonstrated widespread support for legislation to clarify the political relationship between Native Hawaiians and the federal government and to extend federal recognition to Native Hawaiians. The four working groups supported the two-step process for federal recognition presented in the legislation. The process provides the Native Hawaiian community with the flexibility to develop an entity for a government-to-government relationship with the United States.

"This legislation is important not only to Native Hawaiians, but also to all people in Hawaii," Akaka added. "This measure offers the process to begin resolving many longstanding issues facing Hawaii's indigenous peoples and the State of Hawaii. In addressing these issues, we have begun a process of healing, a process of reconciliation not only with the United States but within the State of Hawaii. The essence of Hawaii is characterized not by the beauty of its islands, but by the beauty of its people. The State of Hawaii has recognized, acknowledged and acted upon the need to preserve the culture, tradition, language and heritage of Hawaii's indigenous peoples. This measure furthers these actions."

The Senate bill was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings have been tentatively set in Hawaii for the week of August 28 to September 1, 2000.