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Posted: Friday, July 20th, 2012 8:57 AM HST

Commission to announce Native Hawaiian roll effort

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — The commission charged with putting together a roll of Native Hawaiians to form their own government will announce details of a year-long campaign. The first Native Hawaiian governor is chair of the Native Hawaii Roll Commission. Former Gov. John Waihee and other commission members will participate in a signing ceremony Friday at Washington Place, where they will announce a year-long campaign to create a base roll of Native Hawaiians. Creation of the commission was the next step in allowing Native Hawaiians to establish their own government after Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill into law last year formally recognizing Native Hawaiians as the only indigenous people of Hawaii. The news conference is expected to include video statements by U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka.