Hawaii Version of Akaka Bill Still Alive

Hawaii State Senate

A bill that would recognize Native Hawaiians as the only "indigenous, aboriginal, maoli people" of Hawaii is moving through conference committee at the Hawaii Legislature.

A conference committee is considering merging that bill, Senate Bill 1520, with another measure, Senate Bill 1, that creates a commission tasked with preparing a roll of qualified Hawaiians for a convention.

If passed and signed into law, SB 1520 could help achieve key goals of the Akaka bill, the federal legislation pending in Congress that calls for recognition of Hawaiians and establishment of a governing entity.

Senate Majority Leader Brickwood Galuteria said in conference committee Thursday that his office has been in communication with U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka's office regarding the local legislation.

"This could very well turn out to be landmark legislation for Hawaii and for the Hawaiian people," said Galuteria. "(Akaka) was quite enthusiastic that we would be able to support his intitiaves toward federal recognition in D.C. with our efforts at the state level."

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