The Akaka Bill

[Patrick Henry]

The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009, more widely-known as the Akaka Bill, was proposed by Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii. Since the year 2000, Akaka has proposed several forms of the bill, which aims to get federal recognition for the Native Hawaiian People as an ethnic group, similar to those of Native American Tribes.

Although the bill has repeatedly been passed by the House, it ran into walls in the Senate. President Obama has, however, sworn to pass the bill if it is ever to reach his desk. The question remains, nonetheless, is the bill race-based and unconstitutional or, as supporters of the bill argue, would it be "racially discriminatory" to not pass the bill as other indigenous groups have been recognized. While it remains to be determined if Congress will pass the bill, do you support it?

Read more about the Akaka Bill:
Wikipedia
Honolulu Advertiser
Honolulu Star Bulletin

[Revolutionary]

Very interesting. I was not aware this was going on but I don't agree with it. I dont agree with anything having to do with race. Why does it matter if your white, black or Hawaiian? We are all people.

[December]

Originally Posted by Revolutionary

Very interesting. I was not aware this was going on but I don't agree with it. I dont agree with anything having to do with race. Why does it matter if your white, black or Hawaiian? We are all people.

I agree. Lets please get away from race and benefits because of race. It should be against the law to ask what race you are on a job application.

[Patrick Henry]

The thing is that from the time of the overthrow of Hawaii's last monarchy to its annexation in 1898, land that belonged to the Hawaiians was unjustly taken. This bill is also trying to make up for that.

[Odin]

Originally Posted by Patrick Henry

The thing is that from the time of the overthrow of Hawaii's last monarchy to its annexation in 1898, land that belonged to the Hawaiians was unjustly taken. This bill is also trying to make up for that.

So why should Americans support this? Basically Hawaiians want to retake islands and the US would lose a state. Should we give the west back to the Native Americans? How about Florida back to Spain? Hell lets just give everything back to England.

[Drums of War]

Why Do Hawaiians want to be independent when they are a lot better of as a state of the US?

[Dreams]

Originally Posted by Patrick Henry

The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009, more widely-known as the Akaka Bill, was proposed by Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii. Since the year 2000, Akaka has proposed several forms of the bill, which aims to get federal recognition for the Native Hawaiian People as an ethnic group, similar to those of Native American Tribes.

Although the bill has repeatedly been passed by the House, it ran into walls in the Senate. President Obama has, however, sworn to pass the bill if it is ever to reach his desk. The question remains, nonetheless, is the bill race-based and unconstitutional or, as supporters of the bill argue, would it be "racially discriminatory" to not pass the bill as other indigenous groups have been recognized. While it remains to be determined if Congress will pass the bill, do you support it?

Read more about the Akaka Bill:
Wikipedia
Honolulu Advertiser
Honolulu Star Bulletin

Aren't Hawaiian's just Pacific Islanders? Why the need for another ethic group?

[Achilles]

Originally Posted by Dreams

Aren't Hawaiian's just Pacific Islanders? Why the need for another ethic group?

Maybe because they feel that they are not getting the rights that they deserve.

[Dreams]

Originally Posted by Achilles

Maybe because they feel that they are not getting the rights that they deserve.

What rights aren't they getting? Im African American and I feel I get every right everyone else gets.

[Achilles]

Originally Posted by Dreams

What rights aren't they getting? Im African American and I feel I get every right everyone else gets.

I'm not Hawaiian so I really can't say... The only thing that I do know is that Kamehameha is only open for people who are part or full Hawaiian, and that's not really fair to other ethnic groups.

[Plato]

Originally Posted by Achilles

I'm not Hawaiian so I really can't say... The only thing that I do know is that Kamehameha is only open for people who are part or full Hawaiian, and that's not really fair to other ethnic groups.

When you say "Kamehameha", you're talking about the school, right?

The Native Hawaiians have been trying to get land, recognition, and a country since Hawaii became a state. They have been pestering the government for a long time, and I don't think they are about to get too much too soon. (I've even heard that they claim the land where Honolulu International Airport is theirs!)

[NYC]

This is a racist bill. Let’s stop categorize people by skin color. We are all humans.