Federal Recognition Bill Status Update

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The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2007 (S. 310) is now before Congress. The bill proposes that Hawaiians be formally recognized as the indigenous people of Hawai'i by the United States. This will reinforce their unique political status and open the door for them to establish their own mechanism of self-governance, as well as enabling them to pursue the same status as other native peoples in the United States who have already received federal recognition.

The bill seeks to affirm the indigenous status of the Hawaiian people and their political relationship with the United States. Hawaiians will achieve parity with more than 550 Native American and Alaska Native tribes already recognized by the federal government. The bill is a crucial first step to protect hundreds of health, education, housing, employment, economic development, and arts and culture programs benefiting the Hawaiian community. All these programs and services are now in jeopardy by legal challenges calling them race-based discrimination.

Your questions - your future. Read the bill. Find out the facts about legislation that will affect all of us who call Hawai'i home.

It affirms the special relationship between the federal government and Native Hawaiians.

It provides for a Native Hawaiian governing entity organized by Native Hawaiians.

It provides a process for federal recognition of a Native Hawaiian governing entity.

It establishes an office within the Department of the Interior to focus on Native Hawaiian issues and to serve as a liaison between Native Hawaiians and the federal government.

It prevents the sale, disposition, lease, or encumbrance of lands, interests in lands or other assets of the Native Hawaiian governing entity without the consent of the Native Hawaiian governing entity.

The bill authorizes a roll for adult Native Hawaiians who wish to participate in the reorganization of a Native Hawaiian government. Native Hawaiians who wish to participate in the roll must be at least 18 years old and provide documentation that they are a direct lineal descendant of an indigenous person of the Hawaiian Islands.

It says Native Hawaiians have the inherent right to self-governance and autonomy in their internal affairs as the indigenous people of Hawai'i.

It does not, in and of itself, create a Native Hawaiian government.

It does not settle any claims by Native Hawaiians against the United States. It does not allow for casinos or other gaming in Hawai'i.

It does not separate Hawai'i or any portion thereof from the United States. It does not remove American citizenship from Hawaiians, or affect the rights of non-natives.

It does not automatically guarantee full protection of Hawaiian programs and services in and of itself, but constitutes a crucial first step in a legal strategy to effectively shield them.