Posted at 4:34 p.m., Friday, February 9, 2007
Appeals court rejects Hawai'i taxpayers' suit
Advertiser Staff
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today rejected a lawsuit by a group of Hawai'i taxpayers challenging state general funds going to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.The decision by the appeals court is in line with a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year that indicated payment of taxes alone isn't enough to provide the taxpayers with the necessary legal standing to challenge the state funding.
The high court sent the case back to the appeals court, paving the way for today's ruling.
The challenge was filed by Earl Arakaki and about a dozen other taxpayers who contended government money for OHA is unconstitutional because the organization was set up to benefit only those people with Hawaiian ancestry.
