Kal Penn, the one-time "Harold and Kumar" actor who is now President Obama's associate director of community engagement, will speak at the eighth annual Native Hawaiian Convention tomorrow morning at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Penn will give a message from Obama on the administration's position on Native Hawaiian issues, said Robin Puanani Danner, president and chief executive of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, the convention sponsor.

The Obama administration recently threw its support behind the Akaka bill, which establishes a process that could lead to federal recognition of a Native Hawaiian government.

About 1,100 people are attending the three-day event at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Several awards were given out yesterday, the first day of the convention.

Waimea, Hawai'i, rancher and pastoral Hawaiian homesteader James P. Akiona and outgoing Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. executive director Mehealani Wendt were given the Native Hawaiian Advocate Award presented by the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. Akiona fought several decades to obtain a ranching homestead from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Moloka'i physician Emmett Noa Aluli and social worker/community organizer William Akutagawa Jr. were awarded the Native Hawaiian Health Award given by Papa Ola Lokahi.

University of Hawai'i-Manoa junior Kamakana Aquino, a Hawaiian Studies major, and John A. Burns Medical School student Natalie Kong were honored with the Native Hawaiian Next Generation Leader Award by the Hawai'inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge.