The May 3 hearing on the bill — called the Akaka bill after its chief sponsor, Sen. Dan Akaka, D-Hawai'i — will mark the seventh straight year of Akaka's battle to set up a process for eventual U.S. recognition of a Native Hawaiian government.

Akaka said today that he was "extremely pleased" the committee set a hearing for the bill.

"I remain optimistic about finally providing the parity between Native Hawaiians and our country's other indigenous peoples that is long overdue," said Akaka, who introduced the bill in January with four Democratic and four Republican co-sponsors. "I look forward to hearing the thoughts and suggestions from interested parties."

Last year, Senate Republicans blocked the bill from a final vote. Supporters may have a better chance this year of getting it through the chamber, where Democrats and allied Independents have a 51-49 majority.

But first the bill must again clear the Senate Indian Affairs Committee where the chairman, Sen. Byron L. Dorgan, D-N.D., is a co-sponsor.

Witnesses have yet be announced for the hearing.