[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 4680-4681]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION ACT OF 2011

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, today a united Hawaii delegation will be 
introducing the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act in both 
Chambers of Congress. Long denied the recognition and rights accorded 
to America's other indigenous people, this bill will finally enable 
Native Hawaiians to embark on their long awaited process of achieving 
self-determination.
  On the House side, Congresswoman Hanabusa and I have the great 
pleasure of being joined in this effort by Congressman Don Young, 
Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo and 
Congressman Tom Cole. All are longstanding friends of Hawaii and Native 
Hawaiians.
  How we treat our native indigenous people reflects our values and who 
we are as a country. Clearly, there is much in the history of our 
interactions with the native people of what is now the United States 
that makes us less than proud. The American Indians, Alaska Natives, 
and Native Hawaiians, all indigenous people, have suffered at the hands 
of our Government. But one of the great attributes of America has 
always been the ability to look objectively at our history, learn from 
it, and when possible make amends.
  The bill we are introducing today has been more than 10 years in the 
making. It has been a deliberative and open legislative process. There 
have been 12 congressional hearings on Native Hawaiian recognition, 
five of which were held in Hawaii. These bills have been marked up by 
committees in both Chambers. The House has passed Native Hawaiian 
recognition bills three times: First in 2000, again in 2007, and most 
recently just last year.
  The goals and purposes of the Native Hawaiian Government 
Reorganization Act are consistent with the history of the Native 
Hawaiian people and the record of United States involvement in Hawaii. 
The bill is also consistent with over 188 existing Federal laws that 
promote the welfare of Native Hawaiian people.
  I know there are Members who question these authorized programs 
simply because Native Hawaiian is in the title, which is exactly why we 
need this bill. It will formalize the very special political and legal 
relationship between the United States and the Native Hawaiians by 
providing a process through which the Native Hawaiian community can 
reorganize its governing entity within this relationship. This is how 
we treat Alaska Natives and American Indians, and this is how we should 
treat Native Hawaiians.
  The Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown in 1893. Hawaii's last monarch, 
Queen Liliuokalani, was deposed by an armed group of businessmen and 
sugar planters who were American by birth or heritage, with the 
support, abetted by U.S. troops. The Queen agreed to relinquish her 
throne, under protest, to avoid bloodshed.

                              {time}  1040

  She believed the United States, with which Hawaii had diplomatic 
relations, would restore her to the throne.
  There may be new Members to this body who have not had occasion to 
learn the history of Hawaii, and I extend an open invitation to those 
Members to share this history with you.
  The State of Hawaii motto, which is also the motto of the Kingdom of 
Hawaii, is, ``Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono,'' which translates to, 
``The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.''
  Native Hawaiians, like American Indians and Alaska Natives, have an 
inherent sovereignty based on their status as indigenous aboriginal 
people. I ask for your support of the Native Hawaiian Government 
Reorganization Act.

[[Page 4681]]

  Mahalo nui loa. (Thank you very much).

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