Hawaiian civic leaders want a bigger formal role in dealing with important cultural issues in the state, including education, health, environment and Native Hawaiian rights, officials said today.

To back up their case, delegates to the 47th annual convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs approved motions yesterday calling on state officials to work more closely with club members, who for years have supported initiatives that benefit the Hawaiian community.

"We're asking the state to empower us to take charge of many of the important cultural issues rather than let them do it without any Hawaiian input," said Toni Lee, president of the association. "As more attention is paid to Native Hawaiian issues and the needs of our community, the Hawaiian Civic Clubs are at center stage actively advocating and making a difference."

For instance, Lee said, Hawaiian civic groups are more capable of dealing with the problem of illegal gill net fishing than the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which is considering new restrictions on the nets — including bans in the nearshore waters off Maui, the west side of the Big Island and parts of O'ahu.