WASHINGTON — Majority Leader Bill Frist agreed yesterday to a tactic that would force movement on the Native Hawaiian recognition bill in the U.S. Senate, but it will be September before the issue can be brought up for a debate and final vote.

"While there is a long procedural road ahead of us, I am glad that this bill will finally be brought to action," Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai'i, said yesterday after a 45-minute meeting with Frist, R-Tenn.; Sen. Dan Inouye, D-Hawai'i; and two key Republicans — Arizona's Sen. Jon Kyl, the chief opponent of the bill, and Alaska's Sen. Ted Stevens, a co-sponsor of the measure.

The meeting was intended to hash out how to proceed on the so-called Akaka bill, which has been stalled by several Republican senators.

Under the procedure known as cloture, the first of several required votes to force movement on the stalled bill could come as early as Saturday, if the Senate is still in session. The timing is yet to be determined, Akaka said yesterday.

Invoking cloture would force senators into 30 hours of debate followed by a vote. But September is now the earliest that the bill, which would create a process for Native Hawaiians to form their own government, can be brought up for debate and a final vote.

Part of the problem facing supporters of the bill is that 60 votes are needed to move the bill toward debate on the floor and some senators may not attend a Saturday session because of prior commitments. The Senate also is scheduled to start a monthlong recess this weekend.

"I hope we will be able to do something before we leave," Akaka said.

Akaka and Inouye said they didn't know for certain if the delegation had 60 votes.

"I hope so," Inouye said. "According to the count, we have it, but I've been here long enough to know things can change."

Frist, Kyl and other Republican leaders committed last year to schedule a debate and vote by Aug. 7 but a group of Republican senators who oppose the bill have placed holds on the measure, keeping it from full debate.

Objections that have been cited include the possibility that it would allow Native Hawaiians to become involved with gambling one day.

Frist hoped he and Kyl could get the senators to drop their objections over the weekend but were unable to, Akaka said.

Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., who opposes the bill, said Frist and Kyl made a legitimate effort to get the Republican senators to drop their objections.

"There is one thing of making a commitment and keeping your word but there is another thing of making a commitment and not being able to keep your word because others will not let you," Lott said. "The leader (Frist) is not a dictator here."