OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 2000

Stephanie Hanna (O) 202/501-4633

NATIVE HAWAIIAN RECONCILIATION DRAFT REPORT DELAYED

WASHINGTON - John Berry, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, Department of the Interior, and Mark Van Norman, Director of the Office of Tribal Justice, Department of Justice, announced today a delay in the release of a draft report regarding the reconciliation process between the federal government and Native Hawaiians that commenced with a series of meetings held on Oahu and five of the neighbor islands in December, 1999.

Berry and Van Norman explained that the delay in the release of the draft report was due to the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Rice v. Cayetano and the unexpected volume of testimony that was received after a time extension of the original deadline.

"We are currently reviewing the Supreme Court's decision in Rice v. Cayetano and examining the additional testimony that we received," Berry said. Van Norman added, "Our initial view is that the Supreme Court's decision in the Rice v. Cayetano case will not adversely affect the reconciliation process. In fact, the decision actually underscores the importance of clarifying the United States' unique political trust relationship with the Native Hawaiian community."

"It is our intention to release the draft report in its entirety in the not-so-distant future," Berry continued. "At that time, we will provide the opportunity for open public comment regarding the draft findings and proposals for action contained in the draft report."

-DOI-