A congressional forum in Hawaii turned into a fight over whether federal policy is stripping Native Hawaiians of their indigenous status — bad news for the programs that depend on that legal standing.

• Tokuda pointed to Trump administration budget language that labels Native Hawaiians a racial group rather than an indigenous people.
• That wording matters because indigenous status is what shields Native Hawaiian programs from being struck down as race-based.
• Awa, who is Native Hawaiian and a Kamehameha Schools graduate, said his own party is the one taking those rights away.
• Awa said voters from both parties have been coming to him for help on the issue.
• Both candidates said they could work with the other side no matter which party controls Congress.

Outlook: The fight over Native Hawaiian legal status heads into November's House and Senate races, with the programs' funding hanging on how that language is settled.