HONOLULU -- Hurricane Katrina has delayed efforts to pass the Native Hawaiian Recognition Act in Washington.

The so-called Akaka Bill was set to face a vote on a cloture motion Tuesday. That motion would force the bill to be heard, but it was canceled as lawmakers focus their attention to the problems created by the damage left by the hurricane.

Before word of the cancellation, union leaders gathered at Iolani Palace to rally in support for the measure. The union leaders said Native Hawaiians need and deserve recognition.

"The struggle that we see with the Native Hawaiians -- for dignity and respect -- is a struggle that the working men and women face everyday on the job," AFL-CIO Hawaii leader Harold Dias said.

"I think the Hawaiian people need to be recognized. It's been so long, that all these years they haven't been recognized," Hawaii State Teachers Association President Roger Takabayashi said.

Union leaders said they believe the Akaka Bill's passage will keep Native Hawaiian programs alive and protect Kamehameha Schools from legal challenges.

"From our perspective, this is an important first step; that absent the passage of the Akaka Bill, there won't be any momentum to give proper recognition to Native Hawaiians and we may face a tougher road in the future," said Randy Perreira, of the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Not all Native Hawaiian groups support the Akaka Bill.

The group, Hui Pu, said the Akaka Bill will not protect Kamehameha Schools from legal challenges. Hui Pu members said, if the measure is passed it will actually take away homesteaders' rights to sue the government and erase all Hawaiian claims against crown and government lands.

"Kamehameha Schools is a private institution. It predates U.S. rule in Hawaii. It won't be protected by the Akaka Bill and the lawyers who say so are lying or just wrong," said Ikaika Hussey, of Hui Pu.

A spokeswoman for Sen. Daniel Akaka said the Katrina crisis has pushed the bill to the side for now. The cloture vote has not yet been rescheduled.

"I understand the extremity of this state of emergency ... and look forward to the cloture vote occurring as soon as possible," Akaka said in a written statement.