This is a unique opportunity where we can educate or help better understand the situation that we're in.

the Native Hawaiian people have persevered through all of this.

I hope that as part of this record, the real significance of the authorization is felt by everyone here.

self-determination in terms of federal assistance to meet these responsibilities be provided in a manner that recognizes the right of Indian self-determination and Tribal self-governance.

the enactment of Act 195 was yet another example of Hawaii's ongoing desire to recognize the unique contributions and traditions of the Native Hawaiian people.

I thought you had a very good settlement. Too bad it didn't go through, but people should know the hard work and the work that you put into that.

Owning a home has long been a pillar of the American dream.

this legislation is really, as Congresswoman Hanabusa stated earlier, so very important to close that gap and to address those problems.

This trust responsibility to the native Hawaiian people has since been reaffirmed by federal legislation aimed at protecting native Hawaiians on their land.

help [to] fulfill a trust obligation this Congress created in 1920 that recognized it was necessary to return Native Hawaiians to the land in order to preserve their culture, their tradition and values.

These programs aren't handouts and they are certainly more than simply numbers in the federal budget.