Sen. Daniel Inouye sent an email wishing his constituents hauoli makahiki hou on Tuesday, and reflecting upon much of his work as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee in recent weeks. 

While Inouye described his committee’s successes, he also wrote of the “fiscal and political limitations” he faced in 2011.

“One such limitation I found particularly disappointing was that I was unable to attain federal recognition for Native Hawaiians—the Akaka Bill…” Inouye wrote. “I am very disappointed to report that I was compelled to give up our recognition provision at the end of the Conference.”

Inouye said that the Republicans who opposed the Akaka Bill would have demanded “anti-environmental” provisions that would have “set back our nation’s air and water protections for many years” in exchange for federal recognition. Inouye also said he will “continue to fight” for the Akaka Bill’s passage.