HONOLULU -- The U.S. Senate began debating on Wednesday the long-stalled Native Hawaiian Recognition Bill at the U.S. Capitol.

The bill needed 60 of the 100 senators to vote for it, but only 56 did with 41 voting against it. Thursday's vote effectively kills the bill. (Watch video report.)

Supporters of the bill said they believed that there were enough votes in the Senate to bring the bill to the floor for a final vote.

The Senate debated the so-called Akaka Bill for three hours on Wednesday.

Proponents of the legislation said the Akaka Bill would have established a process to clarify the political and legal relationship of Native Hawaiians and the federal government, relating to the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. The Akaka Bill was introduced six years ago.

The bill had faced opposition from a number of groups including several Native Hawaiian groups and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The commission spoke out against the measure. The commission's draft report said the Akaka Bill was discriminatory and divisive.

The bill's demise was good news to local opponents who felt the measure did not represent all Native Hawaiians.

Hui Pu coalition members said it is now time for both sides to heal their wounds.

"This has been a very divisive issue and we need to look to each other to achieve unity and work with people who had previous differing opinions on the bill and work together to achieve unity and advance a program for social justice and justice for Hawaiians," said Ikaika Hussey of Hui Pu.

The Akaka Bill was a detour to the more important issue of defining reconciliation between Hawaiians and the federal government, according to Hussey.