New Study of Racist Akaka Bill

The racist “Akaka Bill,” which is certain to resurface in the 111th Congress that convened today, would inflict serious harm on the economy of Hawaii if enacted, according to a new report from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and the Beacon Hill Institute.

The measure would grant special race-based privileges to “Native Hawaiians” (who have only one drop of Hawaiian blood flowing in their veins) by exempting members of that group from paying state income and excise taxes. It would also create a new “tribal” government in the state that could help lay the groundwork for Hawaii’s secession from the United States.

We examined the bill and related issues in the May 2008 Foundation Watch. The article, “Racial Separatism in the Aloha State: The Bishop Estate Trust and Hawaii’s Kamehameha Schools,” is by Phil Brand, James Dellinger, and Karl Crow.