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DOJ objected to Native Hawaiian legislation
FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2003

The Department of Justice has objected to legislation that includes programs for Native Hawaiians, The Honolulu Advertiser reports.

On May 16, DOJ wrote a letter to Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Me.) recommending that Native Hawaiians be removed from a bill that would provide federal grants for small business development. On September 11, 2002, DOJ sent a letter to Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) questioning a housing program for Native Hawaiians.

Also, the White House, in a statement of administration policy on the energy bill under debate in the Senate, said sections relating to Native Hawaiian preference should be removed.

DOJ's top Supreme Court lawyer is Solicitor General Ted Olson. Before joining the Bush administration, he represented white rancher Freddy Rice in a Supreme Court challenge to the state of Hawaii's Native Hawaiian election system. The court ruled for Rice, leading the state to open up various Native Hawaiian programs to non-Natives.

Get the Story:
OHA lobbies for Akaka bill (The Honolulu Advertiser 6/6)

Relevant Links:
Native Hawaiian Sovereignty Site - http://www.hawaii-nation.org
Native Hawaiians, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/nativehawaiians
Native Hawaiian Federal Recognition Site - http://www.nativehawaiians.com