Supporters of a cultural trademark study to protect Native Hawaiian art say it shows that many local artisans want a program to distinguish authentic artworks and products from fakes and imitations.

But more than a year after release of the $74,300 study, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has taken no action on its conclusions.

"It's sitting on a shelf gathering dust," said Leighton Chong, a Honolulu intellectual property and patent attorney who gave legal counsel to the study.

Chong said OHA, which paid for the study, is the logical agency to follow up with the study's recommendations because its mandate is to benefit Hawaiians.

"My basic reading is with all the challenges to race-based programs that OHA is dealing with, the cultural trademark program may not be a priority at this time," said Chong. "The Hawaiian community is rather fractious, and there are many different viewpoints. [The study] crumbled under its own weight."

OHA Administrator Clyde Namuo did not respond to requests for comment.