BRYANT FUKUTOMI / BFUKUTOMI@STARADVERTISER.

COM
The Interior Department i!! not p"r#"e a r"!e $reatin% an a&mini#trati'e me$hani#m (or
re$o%ni)in% a ("t"re Nati'e *aaiian %o'ernment i( the $on#en#"# (rom ritten an& ora!
te#timon+ i# a%ain#t that path
The Interior Department i!! not p"r#"e a r"!e $reatin% an a&mini#trati'e me$hani#m (or
re$o%ni)in% a ("t"re Nati'e *aaiian %o'ernment i( the $on#en#"# (rom ritten an& ora!
te#timon+ i# a%ain#t that path, an a%en$+ #po-e#oman to!& the *ono!"!" Star.A&'erti#er.
The (ee&/a$- the &epartment ha# re$ei'e& #o (ar thro"%h ritten $omment# on!ine an&
(rom to ee-# o( p"/!i$ meetin%# in *aaii o'erhe!min%!+ re0e$t# that ro"te. B"t the
&epartment i# $ontin"in% to a$$ept ritten $omment# "nti! A"%. 12 an& a!#o i!! ho!& a
#erie# o( meetin%# (rom 3"!+ 42 thro"%h A"%. 5 in Nati'e Ameri$an $omm"nitie# on the
main!an& to %et more (ee&/a$-.
I( the $"rrent tren& #hi(t# an& proponent# o( the a&mini#trati'e pro$e## 'oi$e their
opinion# in #tron% eno"%h n"m/er# /+ mi&.A"%"#t, that $o"!& a((e$t the &e$i#ion o(
Interior Se$retar+ Sa!!+ 3ee!!, ho "!timate!+ ma-e# the $a!!.
A# o( Fri&a+ a(ternoon, hoe'er, the p"/!i$ te#timon+ !ar%e!+ a# a%ain#t an+ Interior
Department in'o!'ement.
On!+ a/o"t 16 per$ent o( the ro"%h!+ 476 $omment# po#te& on!ine (a'ore& the r"!e.
ma-in% approa$h, a$$or&in% to a Star.A&'erti#er re'ie o( the po#tin%#.
The $omment# mo#t!+ mirrore& the o'erhe!min% oppo#ition the Interior pane!
en$o"ntere& (rom h"n&re&# o( peop!e &"rin% more than 89 ho"r# o( te#timon+ at it# 19
meetin%# #tatei&e.
I( a $on#en#"# a%ain#t the r"!e.ma-in% approa$h i# e'i&ent on$e the $omment perio&
en&#, :then a propo#e& r"!e o"!& not /e $ra(te& an& the pro$e## o"!& en& there,:
Interior #po-e#oman 3e##i$a Ker#ha to!& the ne#paper Fri&a+.
Rhea S"h, the &epartment;# a##i#tant #e$retar+ ho hea&e& the pane!, i##"e& a #tatement
to the Star.A&'erti#er the #ame &a+ than-in% $omm"nit+ mem/er# (or their i!!in%ne## to
/e part o( the (ee&/a$- pro$e##, a##"re& them that their 'oi$e# ere hear&, "r%e& peop!e
to $ontin"e #"/mittin% $omment# an& e'en #eeme& to hint at the po##i/i!it+ o( the r"!e.
ma-in% pro$e## "!timate!+ not a&'an$in%.
:The &ia!o%"e no i# (or the Nati'e *aaiian $omm"nit+ to /e%in to $hart their $o"r#e
(orar& toar&# the ("t"re,: S"h #ai&. :At the 'er+ !ea#t, e hope e ha'e /een a/!e to
/e a $ata!+#t (or the $omm"nit+ to &i#$"## ho to &e'e!op the#e ne<t #tep#.:
Former =o'. 3ohn >aihee, the #tate;# (ir#t Nati'e *aaiian $hie( e<e$"ti'e, #ai& the
&epartment #ho"!& (ini#h the r"!e.ma-in% pro$e## e'en i( a $on#en#"# i# not rea$he&,
notin% that the e((ort #+n$# ni$e!+ ith the nation./"i!&in% pro$e## o'er#een /+ the Nati'e
*aaiian Ro!! Commi##ion.
:It o"!& /e a tra%e&+ i( the+ &i&n;t ?(ini#h@,: #ai& >aihee, ho hea&# the ro!!
$ommi##ion. :The+ #ho"!&n;t A"it hat the+ #tarte&.:
From the (ir#t meetin% 3"ne 4B at the #tate Capito! to the !a#t one T"e#&a+ on Ma"i,
opponent# o( the r"!e.ma-in% pro$e## &ominate& the 19 #e##ion# to ar%"e a%ain#t an+
Interior in'o!'ement in the re.e#ta/!i#hment o( a %o'ernment.to.%o'ernment re!ation#hip
ith Nati'e *aaiian#.
The+ #ai& the a%en$+ ha& no 0"ri#&i$tion, the *aaiian -in%&om #ti!! e<i#t# an& the
Unite& State# ha# i!!e%a!!+ o$$"pie& the i#!an&# #in$e the 1C2B o'erthro o( the
monar$h+.
B"t #in$e the meetin%# en&e&, a tin+ /"t %roin% n"m/er o( peop!e ha'e #"/mitte& on!ine
$omment# to the &epartment e<pre##in% #"pport (or the r"!e.ma-in% pro$e##.
A# o( Fri&a+, the+ n"m/ere& ro"%h!+ to &o)en .. #ti!! a (ra$tion o( tho#e ho ha'e
p"/!i$!+ #po-en a%ain#t the pro$e##.
:I am &i#ma+e& that the on!+ 'oi$e# /ein% hear& are the !o"&e#t one#,: rote an
"ni&enti(ie& non.*aaiian ho or-# (or a Nati'e *aaiian or%ani)ation, ha# !i'e& on
Oah" (or more than 49 +ear# an& #a+# Interior;# e((ort# are a #tep in the ri%ht &ire$tion.
:Mo#t o( the *aaiian# I am $!o#e to a# (rien&# &o not a%ree ith the#e 'oi$e#, nor &o
the+ i#h to /e %o'erne& /+ them.:
A part.*aaiian $ommenter o((ere& a #imi!ar 'ie.
:I &o not /e!ie'e that a ma0orit+ o( *aaiian# ant to #e$e&e (rom the U.S.,: the
"ni&enti(ie& per#on rote. :*oe'er, a ma0orit+ o( a$ti'i#t# ha'e hi0a$-e& the
$ommittee;# meetin%# to pro'i&e a #-ee& 'ie.:
K"rt K!ein, 47, a# amon% the *aaiian# ho to!& the &epartment that he (a'or# the
r"!e.ma-in% pro$e## an& ant# it to "!timate!+ re#"!t in (e&era! re$o%nition o( a ("t"re
Nati'e *aaiian %o'ernment. Di-e #ome other#, he te#ti(ie& at one o( the meetin%# an&
a!#o #"/mitte& on!ine $omment#.
In tho#e $omment# an& in a phone inter'ie ith the Star.A&'erti#er, K!ein, the #on o(
(ormer *aaii S"preme Co"rt 3"#ti$e Ro/ert K!ein, #ai& re$o%nition i# important /e$a"#e
it o"!& /e a (orma! a$-no!e&%ement /+ the U.S. that the pre.e<i#tin% an& inherent
#o'erei%nt+ o( a Nati'e *aaiian %o'ernin% /o&+ ne'er a# e<tin%"i#he&.
Re$o%nition a!#o o"!& he!p prote$t the man+ (e&era! an& #tate /ene(it# (or *aaiian#
(rom ra$e./a#e& $on#tit"tiona! $ha!!en%e#, a$$or&in% to K!ein.
*e #ai& the *aaiian $omm"nit+ i# i!!in% an& $apa/!e o( en%a%in% in #e!(.%o'ernan$e,
$itin% the ro!! $ommi##ion pro$e##, an& #ho"!& &o #o itho"t &ire$t %"i&an$e (rom the
Interior Department.
:On!+ thro"%h a pro$e## an$hore& in p"re #e!(.&etermination i!! !e%itimate Nati'e
*aaiian !ea&er# emer%e to /"i!& a %o'ernment /+ Nati'e *aaiian#, (or Nati'e
*aaiian#,: he rote.
K!ein to!& the Star.A&'erti#er that he /e!ie'e# the po##i/i!it+ o( *aaii /e$omin% an
internationa!!+ re$o%ni)e& in&epen&ent nation .. a #tat"# that -in%&om a&'o$ate# p"#h ..
i# #o remote that the e<i#tin% Nati'e *aaiian /ene(it# #ho"!& not /e p"t at ("rther ri#-
(or the #a-e o( :a &ream.:
Another on!ine $ommenter, Ka!i >at#on, ho hea&# a nonpro(it that &e'e!op# ho"#in% (or
*aaiian# an& i# a (ormer Department o( *aaiian *ome Dan&# $hairman, empha#i)e&
the e$onomi$ impa$t o( re$o%nition.
To "n&er#$ore the ma%nit"&e o( that impa$t, >at#on $ite& an ana!+#i# /+ the !ate Sen.
Danie! Ino"+e;# #ta(( that e#timate& the (e&era! %o'ernment #pent more than E886 mi!!ion
on Nati'e *aaiian pro%ram# (rom 12C2 to 4666. That amo"nt, he a&&e&, &i&n;t a$$o"nt
(or the :m"!tip!ier e((e$t: a# the mone+ (i!tere& into the !o$a! e$onom+, to"$hin%
/"#ine##e# an& #"pportin% 0o/# thro"%ho"t the #tate.
>ith (e&era! re$o%nition, thi# t+pe o( ("n&in% o"!& /e m"$h !e## at ri#- (rom !e%a!
$ha!!en%e# /e$a"#e the %o'ernment.to.%o'ernment re!ation#hip o"!& /e /a#e& on
*aaiian#; #pe$ia! po!iti$a! #tat"#, not ra$e, a$$or&in% to >at#on an& other#.
F"r#"in% re$o%nition thro"%h the r"!e.ma-in% pro$e## o"!& pro'i&e the a&mini#trati'e
mean# (or the U.S. %o'ernment to ne%otiate ith a Nati'e *aaiian entit+, /"t the r"!e.
ma-in% i!! not ta-e aa+ an+ option#, in$!"&in% in&epen&en$e, (rom *aaiian# a# the+
#eparate!+ p"r#"e their #e!(.%o'ernin% ri%ht#, a&&e& >at#on, an attorne+.
:>e;re not %i'in% "p an+thin%,: he #ai&.
>at#on #"/mitte& hi# on!ine te#timon+ a# $hairman o( e$onomi$ &e'e!opment an&
ho"#in% (or the So'erei%n Co"n$i!# o( the *aaiian *ome!an&# A##em/!+, a #tatei&e
or%ani)ation that repre#ent# more than B6,666 *aaiian /ene(i$iarie# on D**D !an&#.
*e #ai& he &i& #o ith the appro'a! o( the %ro"p;# pre#i&ent.
Some o( the r"!e.ma-in% #"pporter# in their on!ine $omment# "r%e& the Interior
Department to a##i#t *aaiian# in (ormin% a %o'ernin% /o&+.
:I /e!ie'e that thi# $omm"nit+ i# too &i'i&e& to $ome to a $on#en#"# an& that thi# pro$e##
nee&# the re#o"r$e# o( the Unite& State# %o'ernment to ?(a$i!itate@ a ("!!+ (air pro$e##
here a!! ho i#h to /e hear& are hear& .. not 0"#t tho#e ho $an +e!! the !o"&e#t,:
rote a 7B.+ear.o!& Nati'e *aaiian an& Oah" #o$ia! or-er.
Ker#ha, the Interior #po-e#oman, to!& the Star.A&'erti#er that e'en i( an
a&mini#trati'e re$o%nition me$hani#m a# $reate& thro"%h the r"!e.ma-in% pro$e##,
Nati'e *aaiian# #ti!! o"!& ha'e to $hoo#e to e<er$i#e that option.
:It i# not #ome a$tion that the (e&era! %o'ernment $o"!& e<er$i#e or "ni!atera!!+ impo#e
"pon the $omm"nit+,: #he #ai& in an emai!. :A!! e are a#-in% a/o"t i# i( an& ho to
$reate the pro$e&"re# e o"!& (o!!o i( a Nati'e *aaiian %o'ernment $ame to "#
#ee-in% (e&era! re$o%nition at #ome point in the ("t"re.:
Some a&'o$ate# #a+ the r"!e.ma-in% pro$e## o"!& not inter(ere ith /"t rather
$omp!ement the ro!! $ommi##ion;# nation./"i!&in% e((ort, $a!!e& Kanaio!oa!". Other#
#a+ the (e&era! initiati'e i!! a&& to $on("#ion #"rro"n&in% the $ontro'er#ia! #tate./a$-e&
$ommi##ion e((ort, ro"n&!+ $riti$i)e& /+ -in%&om a&'o$ate#.
>aihee, ho #ai& he /e!ie'e# a ma0orit+ o( *aaiian# (a'or (e&era! re$o%nition, #ai& the
nation./"i!&in% pro$e## i!! a&'an$e no matter hat happen# to the r"!e.ma-in%
propo#a!. I( an a&mini#trati'e r"!e i# not p"r#"e&, tho"%h, >aihee a$-no!e&%e& a !o## o(
#ome moment"m.
:There;# -in& o( a ni$e #+mmetr+ ri%ht no,: he #ai& o( the to on%oin% /"t #eparate
e((ort#.
B"t e'en i( the Interior Department &rop# it# approa$h, the (e&era! %o'ernment e'ent"a!!+
i!! ha'e to &e'e!op a pro$e## (or re$o%ni)in% an& ne%otiatin% ith the %o'ernin% entit+
(orme& thro"%h Kanaio!oa!", >aihee #ai&.
>at#on, the (ormer D**D $hairman, #ai& *aaiian# #ho"!& or- ithin the #+#tem,
in$!"&in% ith the (e&era! %o'ernment, an& he 'ie# the r"!e.ma-in% approa$h a# a
pra$ti$a! an& po#iti'e #tep.
:The (e&era! %o'ernment i# not %oin% to %o aa+,: >at#on #ai&. :I;m a rea!i#t.:
MAKE YOUR VOICE *EARD
The U.S. Department o( the Interior i# a$$eptin% ritten $omment# "nti! A"%. 12 on
hether it #ho"!& p"r#"e e#ta/!i#hin% an a&mini#trati'e pro$e## (or re$o%ni)in% a ("t"re
Nati'e *aaiian %o'ernmentG
HH On!ineG .re%"!ation#.%o'
HH Mai!G O((i$e o( the Se$retar+, Department o( the Interior, Room 5B42, 1C82 C St. N>,
>a#hin%ton, DC 46486
HH Dire$tG 3ohn Str+!o#-i at 0ohnI#tr+!o#-i@io#.&oi.%o'