Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 9, 1 September 2005 — New poll reaffirms broad support for federal recognition [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

New poll reaffirms broad support for federal recognition

By Manu Boyd On Aug. 22, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs released the results of a new poll in whieh nearly 70 percent of the participants said they support the Akaka Bill, whieh lays out a process for Native Hawaiian federal recognition. The poll, whieh was commissioned by OHA and conducted by the respected Hawai'i polling firm Ward Research, surveyed 401 Hawai'i residents by telephone during the period of Aug. 15-18. The margin of error for the poll was 4.9 percent. Results of one of the poll's five questions showed that 86 percent of respondents said they support the continuation of Hawaiian programs and institutions such as Kamehameha Schools, OHA and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands - all of whieh are currently under legal attacks. Responses to another question suggest that 80 percent of Hawai'i's residents have not been swayed by arguments being made by conservative groups such as the Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i, whieh claims that the Akaka Bill is unconstitutional because it would create a race-based government for Native Hawaiians. OHA Chair Haunani Apoliona said the results of OHA's poll reaffirm the agency's belief that most of Hawai'i's residents support the Akaka Bill. "We knew in our hearts that among the silent majority in Hawai'i, there remains great regard and aloha for Native Hawaiians. This silent majority supports the Akaka Bill despite distortions of fact and fear being fueled by opponents," Apoliona said. Supporters rally behind bill The results of the survey were announced at an Aug. 22 press conference at whieh a wide array of Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian groups and individuals gathered to express their support for federal recognition legislation. Among those represented were the state Legislature; the AFL-CIO and HSTA unions; the Hawai'i Democratic Party; the University of Hawai'i; the Hawai'i Tourism Authority; the NAACP/Hawai'i Chapter; JACL Hawai'i, Honolulu Chapter; Kamehameha Schools; the Hawaiian Homes Commission; OHA; Alu Like; the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, the Native Hawaiian Bar Association; the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce and many others. "It is time for all Americans to stand up for their fellow Americans of Native Hawaiian ancestry," OHA

Chair Apoliona said at the event. "E kū like kākou; let's all stand together." Mieah Kāne, director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, said opponents are trying to destroy forever the identity of Native Hawaiians. "They are raising false fears that the Akaka Bill will lead to things like secession from the United States, a land grab from non-Hawaiians and gambling on homestead lands. All are false," Kāne said. State House Majority Leader Marcus Oshiro said the bill is needed to thwart a blizzard of legal ehallenges. Native Hawaiians are being targeted, but he said others are also in the crosshairs of litigators. "American Indians and Alaskan Natives may also find their programs and federal recognition challenged if the detractors of the Akaka bill have their way," Oshiro said. Kamani Kualā'au, a 1997 graduate of Kamehameha Schools and former student body president, called the Akaka Bill the "hope of my generation of Hawaiians." Kualā'au said he respects the views of those Native Hawaiians who oppose the bill, but said, "I am here today to stand for the hope that Senator Akaka's bill is the realistic first step in a process that will help us to continue to cherish our history, preserve our culture and stop the march against programs that advance Hawaiians' well-being."

Nn Hoii

[?]

House Majority Leader Marcus Oshiro speaks at the Aug. 22 press conference by supporters of Of the Akaka Bill. Photo: Derek Ferrar