Hawaiian rights activist Dennis Pu'uhonua "Bumpy" Kanahele is gaining support for a proposed Native Hawaiian constitutional convention aimed at unifying the historically fractured Hawaiian independence movement.

A Native Hawaiian convention would be separate from a ballot issue in November asking voters whe-ther they want a convention to amend the state Constitution.

A Native Hawaiian concon was supported yesterday by several members of Native Hawaiian organizations, including the Kanaka Maoli Tribunal Komike, the Kaua'i-based Koani Foundation and Hui Pu, an umbrella organization of various independence organizations.

The Hawaiian Kingdom Government, which is occupying the mauka lawn of 'Iolani Palace and "conducting business" there as its first step toward reclaiming Hawai'i from the U.S., also supports the intent of a constitutional convention, said spokes-man Orrin Kupau.

Kanahele said a petition drive to gather supporters for a Native Hawaiian concon has drawn more than 20,000 signatures.

Kanahele, leader of the Independent and Sovereign Nation State of Hawaii (Nation of Hawaii), said the constitutional convention would create a "free, fair and impartial process" for sovereignty advocates to discuss how they can collectively move forward.

He said convention participants may ultimately decide they favor federal recognition for a Native Hawaiian entity through the Akaka bill as advocated by the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs instead of sovereignty.

But that's not likely, given that most sovereignty groups don't think federal recognition will offer enough in compensation for the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian government and that a Hawaiian government entity should be negotiating with an international tribunal rather than the U.S. government.

Kanahele said that all Hawai'i residents, not just Native Hawaiians, would be welcome to take part in the process, unlike OHA's federal recognition process which calls for only Native Hawaiians to participate.

Several sovereignty leaders yesterday said they support Kanahele's call.

"We have too many rival groups, and most of them are not even talking to each other," said Kekuni Blaisdell, chairman of the Kanaka Maoli Tribunal Komike. "I'm in favor of a meeting and talking, and talking, and talking. We know it's going to be a long and difficult process."

Blaisdell said he would like a concon to "form a provisional government so we can deal with the U.S. and other nations. We will need to invoke international law, because we're not going to get anywhere with the United States."

'Ehu Cardwell, of the Kaua'i-based Koani Foundation, said his organization supports a constitutional convention as proposed by Kanahele because "everybody's welcome at the table."

Cardwell said a key reason groups would support a constitutional convention is that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which has played a major role in lobbying for the Akaka bill and federal recognition of a Hawaiian governing entity, would not take the lead at a constitutional convention.

"OHA will not control the process," Cardwell said. "The people will control the process. It's from the ground up, not from the top down."

The Hawaiian Kingdom Government's Kupau said, "We support any intent which recognizes the unification of the Hawaiian people." He added, however, that he did not know if the government's legislative council had yet decided to participate in a convention.

Ikaika Hussey, a spokesman for Hui Pu, said the group had also not yet discussed participation. But personally, Hussey said, he likes the idea of a concon.

"I think everyone's goal is freedom. Discussion is always good," Hussey said.

Kanahele urged those in favor of a constitutional convention to go to his Web site, bumpykanahele.com, for more information and to find ways to obtain the petition.

Also yesterday, Kanahele said he is disavowing himself from a press release sent to the media Monday by Thayer Lindauer, a California-based attorney who described himself as the communications director for Nation of Hawai'i.

The press release, which attributed quotes to Kanahele, formed the basis of a story about the planned constitutional convention which ran in The Advertiser's online edition yesterday.

Lindauer could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The press release speaks of a concon where a president, vice president and legislature would be elected and "enter into negotiations with the United States to end our status as a colonial possession."

Kanahele told The Advertiser last night that while the scenario described could be one outcome, it will be up to those attending the convention to decide.

Lindauer's press release also said the convention would take place Sept. 2-3 at a place in Hawai'i yet to be determined. Kanahele said that's a tentative plan and that the dates were established to satisfy potential supporters of a convention who wanted a definitive date.

Lindauer "jumped the gun" on that news, Kanahele said.

The release and Web site also encourage people to contribute money to The Nation of Hawaii Trust Fund, which is being administered by FullOn Holdings Inc., a Cambria, Calif.-based company.

Kanahele said the fund is to support the constitutional convention. FullOn Holdings is headed by Richard Kamahele Fi-gueroa, whom Kanahele described as a Hilo-born associate.

Figueroa, reached last night, had no comment.

Kanahele said Nation of Hawaii is examining its relationship with Lindauer, FullOn Holdings and its other Mainland associates.