An advisory committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights heard conflicting testimony yesterday at a meeting in Honolulu to gather information about a proposed Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill.

A handful of invited speakers disagreed on whether the long-stalled Akaka bill would help or hurt the cause of Hawaiians.

"Our community in Hawai'i, represented by virtually every elected official at every level of government, clearly favors passage of the bill," said Haunani Apoliona, one of three Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees to testify in support of the bill.

But others said the bill would either damage efforts to create an independent Hawaiian nation or discriminate against others based on race, observers said.

The Civil Rights Commission's staff in Washington, D.C., directed the advisory committee to hold the briefings because it wanted local input on the bill.

In the past, the committee has supported the bill, but it recently received several new members, including some who are outspoken opponents of the Akaka bill. The committee took no action or position on the bill yesterday.

There was no opportunity for members of the public to testify at yesterday's briefing, but several public hearings are scheduled across the state next week.

The hearing schedule: