Federal Recognition

Unlike other indigenous groups in the U.S., such as Native Americans and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians have never formally received recognition of their special status from the U.S. Congress. In recent years, this ambiguity has opened the door to lawsuits by those who would like to see Hawaiians stripped of their existing programs and assets.

Since OHA’s trustees have unanimously agreed that federal recognition is the best way to counter these ongoing legal attacks, the agency has made it a top priority to support Hawaii's congressional representatives in their efforts to gain federal recognition for Hawaiians. most notably through the U.S. senate measure known as the Akaka Bill.