Hawai'i lawmakers are banking on the new Democratic leadership in Congress to help push the Native Hawaiian recognition bill over the top, but the bill's critics say they, the Bush administration and other opposition remain ready to block its passage.

Sponsors in the House and Senate introduced a version of the bill yesterday for the seventh straight year.

U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka, D-Hawai'i, the bill's lead Senate sponsor, said he believes the measure — with four Democratic and four Republican co-sponsors — has a better chance than ever before to get through the Senate, where Democrats now hold a 51-49 majority.

"Our side has been firm with supporting my bill, but we've never had the numbers," Akaka said. "Now we have the numbers."

Noting the 114th anniversary of the overthrow of the kingdom of Hawai'i on Jan. 17, 1893, Akaka said yesterday on the Senate floor that the bill "provides a structured process to bring together the people of Hawai'i along a path of healing to a Hawai'i where its indigenous people are respected and culture is embraced."

Democratic Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono of Hawai'i introduced the bill in the House.

"Native Hawaiians should have the same rights to self-determination and self-governance enjoyed by the other indigenous people of the United States," Hirono said.

The bill is similar to a previous version that included revisions designed to meet concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the Bush administration.

CONTINUED CONCERNS

Despite the revisions, the Justice Department issued a letter the week before a key vote last June raising continued concerns about the bill's constitutionality and other issues.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, was blunt about the effort that will be put behind the measure this year.

"We are going to do our damnedest to get it through," he said.

But Senate Republicans showed no sign yesterday of backing down from their opposition to the bill.

"This is a bill that should not pass," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., an ardent opponent. "The circumstances (with Democratic control) are different now, but I will do what I can to ensure that it does not pass."

Reach Dennis Camire at dcamire@gns.gannett.com and Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.