WASHINGTON -- Hawaii's two U.S. senators are giving up efforts to get the Akaka bill passed this year.

Sens. Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye agreed Monday in Washington with key senators to take up the bill on Hawaiian government recognition next year.

A bill opponent, Republican Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona along with Nevada Republican Sen. Pete Domenici, agreed to help take it to the Senate floor by August 2005.

Akaka said he is disappointed that the bill can't be passed this session, but he agrees that it deserves the Senate's full attention.

Inouye had attached the bill to a Senate funding bill in a last-ditch effort to get it through this year, but he said he's agreed to have it removed. Inouye said he looks forward to a full and robust debate on the Akaka bill next session.

The Akaka bill would, among other things, help protect the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Hawaiian Homelands program, proponents said.