HONOLULU -- The Native Hawaiian Recognition Bill suffered a major setback Wednesday. Supporters of the bill say it got caught in the in the middle of a political "scuffle" in Congress.

"It's certainly a lot of intrigue. Sometimes you have to hold your breath. You don't know what the outcome is going to be," Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairwoman Haunani Apoliona said.

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Apoliona said she was up at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. She was eager to watch Congress in session anticipating a floor vote on the bill.

The bill would make clear the political relationship between native Hawaiians and the federal government.

The bill would among other things help protect OHA and Hawaiian Homelands programs.

That vote didn't happen Wednesday morning. Instead, Apoliona tuned in to an unhappy Sen. Dan Akaka making a floor speech about a move by the house majority leader Rep. Bill Frist that stalled action on the bill.

Akaka told senators he was confident he had the votes to pass the bill through.

"This is why we sought to have this legislation. We knew we could debate it quickly and pass it. I join my other colleagues in expressing my disappointment in the procedural maneuvering, which has occurred today," Akaka said.

Opponents of the bill weren't expecting this latest turn of events, including Jon Osorio, head the Center for Hawaiian Studies.

He doesn't think the so-called Akaka bill is the best thing for Native Hawaiians. Osorio believes the issue is more than just about protecting native entitlements.

"We just don't believe that's proper justification to support a bill that so clearly limits our claims to sovereignty," Osorio said.

Sen. Dan Inouye issued a statement, saying the legislation is not dead. He characterized Wednesday's developments as political squabbling over how to proceed.

Proponents say lawmakers still have time to get the bill to a floor vote. Congress will take a recess in August but does not adjourn until October.