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The misguided legislation known as The Akaka Bill died in the Senate yesterday.

Falling four votes short, the U.S. Senate today rejected a petition that would have cleared the way for a decision on the Native Hawaiian Recognition Act, better known as the Akaka bill.

Rejection of the cloture petition quells, for this year, all efforts to get a bill passed in Congress that would establish a process that could lead to establishment of a Native Hawaiian governing entity.

Sixty of the 100 senators needed to vote "yes" on the cloture petition for the bill to proceed. The vote was 56-41, with three senators not voting.

Senator Akaka vows to fight on in the next session of Congress.

WASHINGTON — While the long-stalled Native Hawaiian bill suffered a blow yesterday, with the Senate rejecting an effort to bring it to the floor, supporters vowed to keep up the battle.

"I'm going to continue to work on this," said Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawai'i, chief sponsor of the bill. "If we don't bring it up again this year, I'll be here next year and offer the bill again."

In a written statement he said, "We must continue to move forward for Native Hawaiians, the people of Hawai'i and everyone in this country who believe that ours is a nation which treats all of its people with an equitable hand."

Haunani Apoliona, chairwoman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, said supporters were "not going to roll over and give up."

That is fine. My opposition to this legislation won't change. We can not create a two-tiered goverment in this country for ethnic groups. Where will this stop? Not to mention the expense of this folly that will just create more bureaucracy.

Will Akaka be around for the next Senate? What is seldom reported outside of Hawaii is the 81-year-old Senator has serious primary opposition this September. Democratic congressman is Ed Case is challenging Akaka. Putting aside my distate for this bill, I'd think Hawaii would be better served with a younger Senator. Akaka is getting on in years and he could die or become impaired before his next term is up.

Before someone says anything, I'd say that about any legislator at that age. The voters need to look not to just till today but till the end of the officeholder's term.

Some amusing news out of all this.

While federal lawmakers debated the merits of the Akaka Bill, about two dozen native Hawaiian activists chanted, sang and hung banners and upside-down state flags from the second floor of Iolani Palace to protest the action being taken in Washington.

Members of Hui Pu, a coalition of native Hawaiians opposed to the federal recognition proposal, staged a symbolic reclamation of the royal throne before leaving peacefully after about two hours.

Where was Steve McGarret and the men of Hawaii Five-0 when all this was happening? They have their offices in the Iolani palace. Were they all too busy eating donughts?

Time for sarcastic laughter. The palace has been a museum for many years. Plus Hawaii Five-0 is totally fictional.

Bloggers Right Wing Nation, Betsy and Robert Prather at OTB also blogged on the Akaka bill's demise.
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