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JULY 7, 2000

A group of Hawaiian residents is challenging a state policy which allows only Native Hawaiians to run for positions at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. OHA administers programs for the benefit of the islands' indigenous population.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled in Rice v. Cayetano that voting for OHA elections cannot be restricted to Native Hawaiians. The group also wants the ruling to apply to those who might run for OHA trustee positions and is asking the State Supreme Court to decide on the constitutionality of OHA.

The State Attorney General said to ask the state supreme court to rule on constitutionality is improper since the Rice decision only addressed voting.

Get the Story:
Group challenges state race preferences for Hawaiians (AP 7/6)

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Hawaiians debate artifacts (Indian U. 7/6)
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Sovereignty protests aim to educate (The Talking Circle 7/3)

Relevant Links:
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs - www.oha.org
More on Rice v. Cayetano - www.nativehawaiians.com