Correcting Akaka
Introduction
Senator Akaka promised to speak daily regarding S. 147, aka the Akaka Bill in 2006. Coming on the heels of a damning report released by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, it represented a new tactic for a troubled bill.
Akaka's attempt in 2006 to pass the Akaka Bill failed, but emboldened by a Democrat takeover of both the House and the Senate, he has reintroduced his bill in the 2007 session.
This webpage includes links to specific statements made by proponents of the Akaka Bill, with detailed refutations and corrections.
Rewriting history
Akaka has worked diligently to rewrite history to provide a basis for his race-based bill. A comprehensive review of Native Hawaiian history was conducted in the early 1980s, and culminated in the Native Hawaiians Study Commission Report on June 23, 1983. Senator Akaka admitted to using the Apology Bill (PL103-150) to rewrite the historical record in a speech on September 4, 1999:
"I wanted ... to neutralize the 1983 Native Hawaiians Study Commission's Majority Report conclusion that the U.S. government was not liable for the loss of sovereignty or lands of the Hawaiian people in the 1893 overthrow."
Background
- January 20, 2006 USCCR meeting transcript
- Hearings before the USCCR, including testimony from both pro-S.147 and anti-S.147 experts.
- May 4, 2006 USCCR draft report recommending against the Akaka bill
- Draft report including a findings section.
- May 4, 2006 USCCR final report recommending against the Akaka bill
- Final report with findings section redacted after complaint from 2 of the commissioners. See USCCR Akaka Findings for details on the findings.
- May 4, 2006 USCCR final report including minority dissents
- See corrections for Michael J. Yaki and Arlan D. Melendez below.
- Akaka Substitute Comparison
- Detailed comparison between the current version of S.147 actually before the Senate, and an allegedly proposed version addressing some, but not all, of the concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice. Senator Akaka posted the trial balloon on his Senate website in September 2005 with great fanfare, but has never formally introduced it in the Senate. A few days later in September the DOJ issued a statement that the trial balloon still does not resolve important issues. Senator Akaka now complains that the U.S. Civil Rights Commission considered only the version actually pending in the Senate, and did not consider his allegedly amended version. Interestingly, the trial balloon was not different from the actually-pending bill on the issues of concern to the Civil Rights Commission, as can be seen by comparing the two versions.
- Hawaii on the chopping block
- Discussion of S.147 and its possible impacts.
- Commission’s findings clarify position on Akaka Bill
- Commentary piece from May 13, 2006 Honolulu Star Bulletin
- Why Congress Must Reject Race-Based Government for Native Hawaiians
- PDF explaining how S.147 offends basic American values.
- 2006-06-07 DOJ to Frist
- Letter to Majority Leader Bill Frist regarding the Bush administration's strong opposition to S.147.
Corrections
Correcting errors of fact and interpretation in Senator Akaka's speeches and other politicians in support of Akaka's bill. Point-counterpoint, and further analysis.
2007
2006
- 2006-05-08 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-09 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-10 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-11 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-12 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-15 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-16 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-17 Mark J. Bennett Fact Check
- 2006-05-17 Linda Lingle Fact Check
- 2006-05-17 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-18 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-19 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-22 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-23 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-24 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-25 Akaka Fact Check
- 2006-05-26 Akaka Fact Check
- Conclusions: Wrapping up the May 2006 Akaka Corrections
- 2006-06-02 OHA Brochure Fact Check
- 2006-06-02 Arlan D. Melendez Fact Check
- 2006-06-02 Michael J. Yaki Fact Check
