Neil Abercrombie: “So if this bill is passed, regardless of the gentleman's instruction, the gentleman does not intend to include a cost of…”

Thus, it seems right on this day that we begin the Congressional process that all Native Hawaiians be recognized as indigenous people of Hawaii.

I think all we are trying to do is to complete the circle to the extent that the Native Hawaiians ought to be given the same treatment as we give Native Alaskans and the American Indians.

We regard the Pacific Ocean as not separating us in the Asian Pacific region, but connecting us in the Asian Pacific region.

Hawai`i is a microcosm of the sustainability challenges facing the planet.