Patsy Mink is in it representing the 2nd Congressional District. Neil Abercrombie, with shoulder-length dark brown hair, is representing the 1st, and Dan Akaka and Dan Inouye are beaming, looking marvelous. Peering over President Bill Clinton’s shoulder is Al Gore, then vice president.

The picture showing them all in the Oval Office is from 1993.

The issue at hand is witnessing Clinton signing Public Law 130-150, the Apology Resolution to Native Hawaiians.

Things really were not any simpler 21 years ago, but viewed from recent exchanges between folks in Hawaii and the federal government, they sure seemed more on track.

When he was in office, Akaka made a point of showing visitors a framed copy of the resolution in an explanation of its importance.

Observers consider the resolution important because in it is a recognition that Native Hawaiians didn’t give up their "claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people or over their national lands."

In 2000, the federal Interior Department started what was called a "reconciliation process" between the United State and the Hawaiian people (http://goo.gl/r3tgV5).

The resulting report, "The River of Justice Must Flow Freely," repeatedly says Congress should pass a law that "recognizes a government to government relationship with a representative of the Native Hawaiian people."

But when it comes down to real action, the report instead says two new bureaucracies should be created in the departments of Interior and Justice to deal with Hawaiian issues and then wanders off into vague good thoughts.

"We believe the executive branch, Congress, the state of Hawaii, and the Native Hawaiian people must develop an appropriate process to ensure true reconciliation," it said.

And that brings us to the present, where the Obama administration in the form of the Interior Department is asking people in Hawaii if it can help.

Yes, insert here the joke, "I’m from the government and I’m here to help."

The DOI just concluded a round of visits to all islands to assess whether people in Hawaii want the DOI to start asking about helping with forming a Native Hawaiian government, which would then begin talks with the United States about reconciliation.

It may have been started with good intentions, but it was clearly a tone-deaf moment in the relationship.

Many of those speaking at the hearings told the federal government to leave, and called for the revival of the kingdom of Hawaii.

As hearing were held in Waimea and Kona on the Big Island, West Hawaii Today reported that "Rhea Suh, an assistant secretary with the Department of the Interior, said the federal agency is asking ‘dense’ questions that the Native Hawaiian community needs to define the answers to."

If the hearing served as a sounding board, by the end of the process the board was pretty much pummeled into splinters. The questions of "nation within a nation" or "tribal relationship" or "leave Hawaii to figure it out for itself" were not answered.

But, the real question was not asked.

If Native Hawaiians are to be players in the debate, it is not about whether the monarchy is making a comeback or whether it is all a plot to bring in casinos.

The question, as it always is in Hawaii, is about the land. An estimated 1.8 million acres were seized by the federal government in 1898 when the U.S. annexed Hawaii. That seized land became ceded land and it is what’s at stake in any new Native Hawaiian government.

Best advice: Keep your eye on the prize.

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Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.