Meetings on Native Hawaiian Recognition Come to Big Island

The series of meetings by the Department of Interior to gather input on the possibility of formal relations with a Native Hawaiian government comes to the Big Island today.

The first meeting is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. tonight at the Keaukaha Elementary School. They continue with two sessions on Thursday, one from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Waimea Community Center and the other from 6-9 p.m. at Kealakehe High School in Kona.

The meetings, which began June 23 on Oahu, have been marked mostly by strong opposition to the Interior proposal to consider establishing a “government-to-government” relationship with Native Hawaiians.

The Hawaii meetings move next to Maui, with one in Hana on Saturday, July 5. They conclude on Tuesday, July 8, with a session in Kahalui.

Additional meetings on the proposal will be held in Indian Country on the mainland in late July and early August.