Supreme Court to hear arguments in Hawaii v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Yes, the case title sounds like the same party suing itself, but it's a little more complicated than that.  The Hawaii Supreme Court issued a decision that the STATE of Hawaii can't sell any state-owned land until it reaches a political settlement over the forceful taking of land during the US annexation of Hawaii with Native Hawaiians.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is a institution created by a state constitutional convention in 1978 to receive and manage part of the funds derived from the ceded land to the benefit of Native Hawaiians. 

So don' underestimate this case - it is HUGELY significant to the entire State of Hawaii, and, obviously, in particular the Native Hawaiians.  Any Supreme Court case is likely to attract some attention, but this one has gotten more than the usual....and more than the usual amicus briefs, too, at least one of which asks the question of whether or not Native Hawaiians should be legally considered and treated on the same grounds as Indians.

Law student Patrick Nemeroff posted a nice summary of the case, to be heard Wednesday by the Court, HERE on the SCOTUSBLOG.

twp