HONOLULU -- Native Hawaiian leaders on Monday accused President George W. Bush's administration of trying to sabotage the Hawaiian Recognition Bill, or Akaka Bill.

The criticism focuses on appointment of several outspoken opponents of Hawaiian rights to a committee on civil rights.

"I must say I am appalled," Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairwoman Haunani Apoliona said.

She said the new civil rights advisory committee has been stacked against Native Hawaiians, with a majority now hostile to all Hawaiian programs.

"(It raises the) specter of questionable and biased Washington D.C.-based control over our Hawaii advisory committee," Apoliona said.

The new panel includes the attorney and allies who fought Hawaiian programs in court and on Monday challenged Hawaiian recognition.

The man who oversaw the appointments, the chairman of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, said that until now the committee was biased toward Hawaiian rights.

"It's important that there is vigorous debate and that all views in Hawaii are represented. That was not the case in the past, but we have that now," U.S. Civil Rights Commission Chairman Gerald Reynolds said.

The panel has no real power, but if it were to vote against the Akaka Bill, that would provide ammunition against the bill in Congress.

Even though he opposes the Akaka Bill, the civil rights chairman denied stacking the committee's votes.

If the committee turns against the bill, it will first have to hear from many of its supporters.

The committee will travel to Maui and return for its last hearing on Oahu on Sept. 12.