HONOLULU -- The first meeting of a newly formed Democratic Party caucus for Native Hawaiians turned into a shouting match Tuesday evening over the Native Hawaiian Recognition Bill currently being debated in Congress.

Native Hawaiians opposed to the bill accused Hawaii's congressional delegation of designing the bill, proposed by Sen. Daniel Akaka, to take away resources and money away from the Hawaiian people. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Rep. Patsy Mink attended the meeting at Washington Middle School, along with a number of prominent leaders from the Native Hawaiian community.

"We're one of the wealthiest people in the world, the Native Hawaiian people," said one opponent. "There's only 250,000 of us."

But Abercrombie told the meeting that the bill he's supportive of the current bill and said that some critics ill never be satisfied.

"For those who would like the bill to proceed ... the language in the bill will never satisfy those who don't want the bill to pass in the first place," Abercrombie said.

The Akaka bill was not supposed to be a main topic of the caucus. Instead, it was supposed to be more of a get-acquinted session.

"It's very important that we have our issues represented both locally and nationally," organizaer Ikaika Hussey said.

Organizers said that the caucus wants to have a greater voice within the Democratic Party and a better relationship with lawmakers.

"I am hopeful that the Native Hawaiians of hawaii would recognize that the Democratic Party has lived up to their promises," Sen. Daniel Inouye said.

Leaders of the caucus said that they are not yet taking a position on the Akaka bill, which is endorsed by the party. They also refused to comment on what the caucus would do if Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Oswald Stender decides to run for lieutenant governor as a Republican.

To read the entire Akaka Bill, click here