Even pared down, Akaka Bill fulfills goal of Hawaiians

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Sep 25, 2012

~~<p>It's been 12 frustrating years for advocates seeking Native Hawaiian nationhood through the Akaka Bill. Surely much of that frustration has been borne by its namesake, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka. When public support at home seemed strongest, the political scales in Washington were tipped against the bill, and since then the measure's been stalled in the increasing partisan polarization.</p>
<p>The bill recently passed the Indian Affairs Committee that Akaka chairs, but its chances to move beyond that point are slim. If anything, that polarization is worse in this election cycle; the likelihood of passage by the end of the year, when the senator will retire, is all but nil.</p>
~~

It's been 12 frustrating years for advocates seeking Native Hawaiian nationhood through the Akaka Bill. Surely much of that frustration has been borne by its namesake, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka. When public support at home seemed strongest, the political scales in Washington were tipped against the bill, and since then the measure's been stalled in the increasing partisan polarization.

The bill recently passed the Indian Affairs Committee that Akaka chairs, but its chances to move beyond that point are slim. If anything, that polarization is worse in this election cycle; the likelihood of passage by the end of the year, when the senator will retire, is all but nil. Login for more...