TV show to address Akaka bill

Advertiser Staff

TV viewers will be invited to e-mail and phone in their questions and comments about the Native Hawaiian federal recognition proposal before Congress in a panel discussion to air live at 7 p.m. Monday on KITV.

The hour-long program titled "Akaka Bill: Myth or Reality?" is being presented by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The program is being aired to field questions about how federal recognition would affect Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians; whether passage of the bill would block any move toward Hawaiian independence; and whether the legislation would extinguish claims against the U.S. government.

Panelists will include: Charles Wilkinson, an authority on Indian and land laws; Native Hawaiian law expert Melody MacKenzie; and OHA attorney and former state Supreme Court associate justice Robert Klein. Filmmaker Edgy Lee will moderate.

Questions are being accepted via e-mail (akakabill@oha.org) and will be taken by phone during the show. The number will be broadcast during the show. The program will be streamed live on the Internet (www.thehawaiichannel.com/oha), where it will be available for viewing through July 21. KITV will rebroadcast it at 3 p.m. June 26.

Information: 594-1888.