HONOLULU -- Sen. Daniel Akaka announced on the Senate floor Friday morning that a motion will be filed to discuss the Hawaiian Recognition Bill during the first week of June.

The frustrated senator spoke on the floor for five straight days about a bill giving Native Hawaiians federal recognition.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he will force the so-called Akaka Bill to come to the Senate floor in the first week of June, and a vote on it would come shortly after debate ended.

It's been six years since the bill was introduced, and the strategy could be necessary for the bill to receive a vote and to counter criticism that the senator has been ineffective.

Akaka said he's trying to educate his fellow senators about the importance of the bill.

The proposal would give Native Hawaiians rights to self-governance, similar to what is already granted to American Indians and Native Alaskans.

The bill is important because it gives the native people of Hawaii a chance to right some of the wrongs done when the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown in 1893, Akaka said.

Some Hawaiian groups oppose the measure, saying it would make them second-class citizens.