Letter from George Ariyoshi, Governor of Hawaii, to President Gerald R. Ford Regarding Relations between Federal Government and Native Americans

2) EXECUTIVE OF STATE HAWAII M HO/N STII RINE. EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS HONOLULU x GEORGE R. ARIYOSHI GOVERNOR November 30, 1976 Ateal The President The White House Washington, D. C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: Proclamation 4468, titled "Native American Awareness Week, 1976," honored the contributions of American Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts, but I failed to recognize native Hawaiians as a group of native Americans that played an "impressive role in our society." Native Hawaiians have added beauty, distinction, and color to American culture and society. On behalf of the people of Hawaii, I am taking this opportunity to voice my concern I over the exclusion of native Hawaiians. Under the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (PL 93-644, Title VIII) native Hawaiians, as well as native Alaskans and American Indians, are native Americans. A native Hawaiian is defined as "any individual any of whose ancestors were natives of the area which consists of the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778." At present, approximately 140,000 ethnic Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians reside in the State of Hawaii. Due to a lack of national recognition, native Hawaiians, as a group, I have been excluded in federal legislation. The result is that native Hawaiians are not receiving all benefits in health, education, manpower, and other social programs which have been accorded to other groups of native Americans. We feel it is important to establish native Hawaiians as native Americans and to receive the appertaining rights and privileges. Therefore, although Native American Awareness Week has passed, we are calling your attention FORD & LIBRARY GERALD EVENPATER аязёмана 3VITUD3X3 arer .08 Additional sdT 00008 .0 .0 timobiest1 .TM 189U ",avet svite batti 80AP two bite combined easibli motionA to grit bezohori lett assoivemA evitst to quotg 0 C as accidewell evides suingcoor of belin? 03 30 oved 9vhsM Visitos TO di slos svissosqui" as boysiq 6 lod a0 Das surfivo of Tolos bus notionitein vitased You solov of ein) gaint the 1, itsweh 20 elgosq OW 20 WHITE HOUSE MAIL ROOM AM emitionell eviteu 10 notarioxe off TOTO 6 .A00-88 JD pref to M over? off tobitU DEC tout ressivient bas americalA eviden X Low as ovlied (IIIV neitewer 9L6 of to dativ 2020 still to sevited SEOW excresoms security to YOU volvibat Vita" X boandeb at eviden A eviten 913 simile 000.001 platentixongs M ".8TYI of roing abusiel Howell to state odit m shiest bits as excits vited Isroited to Host S of owd endiswed ovitan had at Husst off letobol sti Debuloxe stand 9vsd todto but dillsod mi attend Us guivisest for 9TS oviden to aguots of Debtocce noed oved dokiw emergong Icisoa anseinomA oviden 83 emothewell oviden delidates of Improqui at # Lost sW riguodiffs . asgeliving but enigit gainicis goe edit svicess of bus подлейте wor galliss 970 ow beeseq and doo'll sectetiswA ovitsM The President Page 2 to the exclusion of Hawaiians. It is our intent to bring to the attention of national leaders the recognition of native Hawaiians as an integral part of American culture and society. With warm personal regards, I remain, Yours very truly, George R. Ariyoshi cc: The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye The Honorable Spark M. Matsunaga The Honorable Cecil Heftel The Honorable Daniel Akaka GERALD LIBRARY R.FORD - THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON 12/15/76 TO: BILL BAROODY FROM: STEVE McCONAHEY For your information Comments: For a draft response. Thanks. FORD & LIBRARY GERALD