President Barack Obama told Hawaii’s congressional delegation during a meeting today that he’d work to find ways to help Native Hawaiians.

Speaking for the delegation at the meeting, Sen. Mazie Hirono urged Obama to back initiatives to help Native Hawaiians, her office said.

“The President committed to continue working closely with me and the rest of our Hawaii delegation on issues important to Native Hawaiians,” Hirono said in a statement after the meeting between Obama and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Rep. Colleen Hanabusa said in a statement, “As a Keiki O Ka Aina, President Obama understands the importance of Native Hawaiian recognition and what it means to our host culture. We know he will seriously consider our request to use his executive branch authority to achieve this elusive goal.”

— Kery Murakami