At this moment in Hawai'i, the attention of the U.S. Commision on Civil Rights is sharply focused on Native Hawaiian federal recognition, because hearings of its state advisory committee are ongoing over the next week. But the impact of its work goes well beyond the Akaka bill.

Following the advisory panel's first hearings on the bill, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs conducted a poll that highlights broad support for federal recognition. When asked whether Hawaiians should be recognized as a distinct indigenous group, similar to the recognition given to American Indians and Native Alaskans, 70 percent of respondents statewide said "yes."

Opinions about the details of self-governance are a little cloudier. Although two-thirds of those responding to the poll said Hawaiians have a right "to make decisions about their land, education, health, cultural and traditional practices and social policies," only 51 percent said "that an entity of some kind should be formed."

There shouldn't be too much stock placed in any individual poll, but weighed with previous readings, there's clearly too much broad support for federal recognition to be dismissed. The position to be taken by the advisory committee should be part of the complete picture, but kept in context.

That's where Hawai'i's congressional delegation has a role. The delegation has written to the commission to voice its concern over how the advisory panel agenda seemed dictated by the commission and arrayed around this single issue.

Hawai'i's committee came under fire with the recent appointment of several outspoken opponents to the bill. Similarly, a spotlight has been placed on panels across the nation for their pursuit of an anti-affirmative-action agenda.

"I have never seen such a concentrated effort to block anything that is race-based," said U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, in a meeting with The Advertiser's editorial board. "Anything with 'Native Hawaiians' is seen as race-based to them."

But this concern needs to be telegraphed to other members of Congress — to be aware of the commission's change in course and watch how it uses its influence on lawmakers. Anyone who believes in civil rights advocacy should be concerned about where the new course is leading.