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Posted: Monday, September 24th, 2012 9:04 AM HST

Native Hawaiian painting displayed in Senate room

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — Native Hawaiian artwork in on display in the hearing room of a Senate committee in Washington, D.C. The Hawaiian Way Fund says this is the first time in the history of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs that art depicting Native Hawaiians is showcased. The room already features art of American Indian and Alaska Native people and history, some on loan from the Smithsonian. The committee is chaired by Hawaii's Sen. Daniel Akaka. The committee has primary jurisdiction over legislation in the Senate addressing American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian issues. The fund says Native Hawaiian businesses and nonprofits helped purchase the piece, which will be on permanent loan to the committee. The painting's artist is Brook Kapukuniahi Parker, who was raised in Kahaluu.