Programs for Native Hawaiians Challenged New law suit raises constitutionality question.
	Controversial Law Increases Deportations (in National News) Indian Americans in Silicon Valley Raise Over $1 Million for Democrats (in Bay Area News) Asia's Unresolved Economic Issues (in Business) New Film Gemini's Double Pleasures (in A&E) Emil Amok (in Opinion)

Group Protests Hawaiian Recognition Bill

By Associated Press

Dozens of members of a Native Hawaiian group demonstrated last week against a bill that would give Hawaiians the same federal status as American Indian tribes.

The group calling itself the Reinstated Hawaiian Government set up signs at Magic Island in Honolulu saying, “We are Hawaiians, not Native Americans.”

“It changes our birthright identity,” group member Henry Noa said of the proposal. He and other members also spoke out against a proposal in the bill for the federal government to establish a government-to-government relationship with Native Hawaiians. Noa said Hawaiian sovereignty must be established by Hawaiians themselves and can’t come from the federal government.

Congressional staff say despite several outbursts by opponents, most of those testifying at public hearings on the bill in Honolulu in August and September were in favor of the bill.

But U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, is working against a tight deadline to win passage of the measure, which he authored and Hawaii’s other congressional delegates support. Congress is already working past its scheduled Oct. 6 adjournment date and lawmakers will be busy wrapping up spending measures in the next week.

The House unanimously approved the legislation late last month, but the bill is being met with a more critical eye in the Senate, with some senators questioning whether the bill would divert funding from American Indian programs to Hawaiian programs.