As we’ve mentioned here more times than I can count, it’s important that we stay apprised of developments and impact of Native American law, as the Akaka Bill seeks to bring those precedents to Hawaii. With that said, here are some of the more significant decisions of late. (Note that two of the cases have [...]
It should be of interest to those affected by the Akaka Bill (in other words, pretty much everyone in Hawaii) to know that Native Hawaiians are not the only ones encountering controversy over the question of federal recognition of tribal status. Columnist and investigative reporter John Stossel writes of the Lumbees of North Carolina, who [...]
The Wall Street Journal has a nice little feature piece about the effort to restore the furnishings in Iolani Palace. As is so often the case with features, it’s heavy on the neat-o factor, and maybe not-so-rigorous on the historical fact checking. As a general rule, I like the Journal. And I like the whole [...]
On Decemeber 22, 2010, Hawaii’s own Senator Akaka addressed the US Senate to proclaim his continuing support of the so-called Akaka bill which expired without action as the senate closed for the 2010 year. With all respect to the senator, the Akaka bill should never again see the light of day. Americans nationwide have objected [...]
It has been a great couple of weeks for our friends at Hawaii Reporter, who even scored a Drudge mention and a Tonight Show one-liner out of their coverage of the Obama family vacation (see below). So how about a quick round-up of things that cost us money? John Carroll has an examination of the [...]
For those who were intrigued by the Hawaii Reporter investigative work on the rise of Native Hawaiian Companies (and their somewhat incestuous relationship with government spending and granting), there’s more to be learned via the rise of Alaska Native Corporations. A recent piece from the Alaska Dispatch sends about the success (and questions it raises) [...]
Government transparency is one of those things that everyone says they support, but not many people give much thought to. But when you think about it, it’s pretty powerful stuff. Without transparency, a necessary check on government is gone. The media does its best, but with limited resources, a need to turn a profit, and [...]
By Jere Krischel In an article titled “What are the ‘Ceded Lands’ of Hawaii?” written for Honolulu Civil Beat on 11/08/2010, Professor Van Dyke makes some critical errors in his assessment of both the history and the law. While acknowledging the Supreme Court’s rejection of the “Apology Resolution,” he still relies on it for his [...]
When Governor Lingle announced, with all due flourishing, her newly acquired support for the Akaka Bill, a big part of her new-found appreciation for divisive race-based legislation was in the compromise over criminal immunity that was theoretically being added to the bill. (I say “theoretically” because–while that language was added to the House version of [...]
A Lack of Resolution
Over on Hawaii Reporter (which I swear doesn’t do anything to get all these mentions here except produce a broader and more fearless variety of opinions than the vast majority of other Hawaii news sources), Ken Conklin has an interesting take on the most recent effort of the Hawaii Legislature to rewrite history. The article [...]