A Tribal Justice official says the bill can give Hawaiians more control By Pat Omandam Star-Bulletin Clinton Administration officials told a joint Congressional committee in Honolulu this morning that they support a bill that clarifies the political status of native Hawaiians. Agtuca said the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom frustrated the rights of native Hawaiians, who have not had control of their own affairs since 1893. Olelo will televise hearings Star-Bulletin staff Olelo, the Corporation for Community Television, will televise the Akaka bill hearings being held this week at the Blaisdell Center. Olelo will rebroadcast and video-stream the hearings in their entirety beginning at 10 p.m. every evening.
Today is the first in a weeklong series of Congressional hearings on the bill.
The political relationship between native Hawaiians and the United States goes to the heart of many of the longstanding issues facing native Hawaiians, including ceded lands and self-determination. This bill gives Hawaiians their opportunity to set up such a government, he said. If all goes as planned, the bill could be voted on by the committees in mid-September. But there are only 22 days of Congressional session left after the Labor Day weekend. Akaka spokesman Paul Cardus said that both Houses of Congress are behind in passing spending and budget bills and that negotiations on them have not yet begun in earnest with the Clinton Administration.