Mazie Hirono actually said...

"Native Hawaiians were not constituted as tribes as most of us I think understand tribes, but they were a separate nation."

"the Native Hawaiian people are an indigenous people this is not race-based legislation."

"I particularly appreciate the comments made by my colleagues, Abercrombie of course, Bordallo and Faleomavaega."

"The thing that we should remember is the United States has a special relationship with native peoples, and Native Hawaiians are native peoples."