Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday it is still important for the federal government to recognize Hawaiians as an indigenous people because it is the right thing to do and because it could protect Hawaiian programs that receive federal money from court challenges.

The Republican governor and her Democratic opponent, former Mililani state Sen. Randall Iwase, spoke at a luncheon sponsored by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

The appearances might be among the few times Lingle and Iwase are in front of the same audience before the November election, though the governor yesterday also agreed to a televised debate.

Lingle said if she is re-elected, she wants to be more involved in the strategy behind moving the federal recognition bill if the Hawai'i congressional delegation proposes it again next year.

"I am concerned about these legal challenges," Lingle said of claims that Hawaiian programs are based on race and are unconstitutional. "We do need to continue to fight for federal recognition."

Iwase told Hawaiians that the bill would advance if Democrats controlled Congress. He said Lingle failed to keep the Bush administration neutral and blamed a U.S. Department of Justice letter describing the bill as unconstitutional for a procedural defeat in the U.S. Senate in June.

"I'm going to know, if the president of the United States, if I call him my friend, and if I campaign for him, I'm going to know if he's going to submarine me, so that we can take action before that happens," Iwase said, referring to Lingle's ties to President Bush. "That did not happen here. That's what killed this bill."

Lingle and Iwase spoke separately at the luncheon, which was part of the council's annual convention, and answered questions on Hawaiian issues. The questions were provided to the candidates a day in advance, so each had time to prepare.

Lingle agreed yesterday to appear in a one-hour debate with Iwase next Friday that will be shown on the four commercial television networks. The governor also said she would do a joint appearance with Iwase at a Big Island forum with the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters and the Kona Outdoor Circle.

Iwase has called for debates in all four counties, which is unlikely to happen.

Both Lingle and Iwase told Hawaiians yesterday that they strongly support the federal recognition bill, which would recognize Hawaiians as an indigenous people like American Indians or Alaska Natives. The bill would create a process for Hawaiians to form their own government that could negotiate with the state and federal government on land use and cultural issues.

Conservative Republicans in the Senate have blocked the bill since 2000, arguing it is unconstitutional because membership in the new government could be based on race. But U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai'i, and other supporters of the bill say the relationship would be political, not racial.

Some Republicans in Hawai'i have said there should be a popular vote in the Islands on the bill.

Lingle had been working to keep the Bush administration at least neutral on the legislation and had been in discussions with Senate and House Republicans to reduce opposition. The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs also hired a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm to help.

Lingle said it was the congressional delegation that came up with the legislative strategy. The bill failed to reach the Senate floor in June when Akaka was four votes short on a procedural motion.

"I think that the people at OHA would tell you that the matter would never have come to a vote without our help in the United States Senate," Lingle said after the luncheon.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.