[News] Native Hawaiians occupy palace grounds
Anti-Imperialist News
news at freedomarchives.org
Thu May 1 18:37:17 EDT 2008
Group of Hawaiians occupies Iolani Palace, vows to return
Native Hawaiians occupy palace grounds
http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/01/news/story04.html
By Gene Park
<mailto:gpark at starbulletin.com?subject=http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/01/>gpark at starbulletin.com
A native Hawaiian organization blocked the
grounds to Iolani Palace for most of the day
yesterday in a move to declare its status as the
Hawaiian kingdom's government.
The gates surrounding the palace were reopened to
the public after 2 p.m., following negotiations
with the state Department of Land and Natural
Resources. However, the group's leaders vowed to return at 8 a.m. today.
About 70 members of the organization, called the
Hawaiian Kingdom Government, locked themselves in
the grounds with padlocks and chains, state
officials said. The group claimed the state had placed the locks.
art
DENNIS ODA /
<mailto:DODA at STARBULLETIN.COM?subject=http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/01/>DODA at STARBULLETIN.COM
Following an hours-long standoff at Iolani Palace
yesterday, a group called the Hawaiian Kingdom
Government emerged from behind locked gates after
negotiations with state land officials.
Its head of state, Mahealani Kahau, said the
group was operating as a government as of
yesterday, with executive, legislative and
judicial branches present on the grounds.
Yesterday, the group's guards put up yellow "No
Trespassing" signs at the palace's several gates
to "give awareness and notice to everyone that
passes that the Hawaiian Kingdom Government has
resumed its lawful status as the seat of government," Kahau said.
The incident ended peacefully with no arrests.
However, the grounds were surrounded for most of
the day by state sheriffs and special agents from
the state attorney general's office.
State security for the palace grounds will
increase this morning, DLNR Director Laura
Thielen said, adding that she hopes that talks
will continue with the group. She said the members could face charges.
"We'll remain assessing the situation and see
what happens," Thielen said. "Clearly, they're
going to be remaining on the property for a while."
Thielen said the state's main concerns were:
» Keeping the land open to the public.
» Ensuring the safety of all involved.
» Securing the historic building and its contents.
The executive director of the Friends of Iolani
Palace, Kippen de Alba Chu, decried the group's actions.
Chu said the palace was the royal residence and
that government activities were carried out in
the now-demolished courthouse, then later in Aliiolani Hale.
"It is historically wrong for any individual or
group to state that the palace is to serve as a
government building," Chu said. "The removal of
government functions from the palace and its
restoration as the place of residence of the
Hawaiian alii were, in fact, significant steps to
acknowledge its true and proper position."
art
DENNIS ODA /
<mailto:DODA at STARBULLETIN.COM?subject=http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/01/>DODA at STARBULLETIN.COM
The west gate had been barred and a "Warning!" sign posted.
Kahau disputed Chu's comments, saying the kingdom
used the palace for legislative purposes after
the 19th-century American overthrow.
"What they thought they took over was the Hawaii
kingdom government, but they did not," Kahau
said. "As long as we have a breath to speak, we are here."
The group said it intends to use the palace
grounds to operate its government, including the
State Archives. Thielen said the group needs to
obtain authority from the court before operating out of any state building.
Kahau said the group hopes to create programs to
benefit education. When asked where it would get
funding, she said, "We have ways" and declined further comment.
Maui Sen. J. Kalani English (D, Hana-Kahoolawe)
walked over from his state Capitol office to show
support and brought the group food. "I'm here as
a Hawaiian to let them know that they're
acknowledged and that they're heard," he said.
While on the palace grounds, Kahau was flanked by
about a half-dozen unarmed bodyguards sporting
sunglasses and using push-to-talk phones.
Panakonaue Kahau, Hawaiian Kingdom Government's
interior minister, said the organization began
with 45 people who elected the leadership.
"The only lawful government here on the islands
is us," said Kahau, brother of Mahealani Kahau.
To become a part of the kingdom, a person must
watch a video presentation and pray for guidance, he said.
art
DENNIS ODA /
<mailto:DODA at STARBULLETIN.COM?subject=http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/01/>DODA at STARBULLETIN.COM
Kippen de Alba Chu, left, Friends of Iolani
Palace executive director, greeted Mahealani
Kahau, head of the Hawaiian Kingdom Government, after the gates opened.
The incident inconvenienced dozens, including the
palace's 28 employees and about 24 volunteers
with the Friends of the Iolani Palace who did not
work yesterday. State Capitol workers also were
told to park elsewhere, while three group tours
and about 40 reservations for guided tours were canceled yesterday morning.
Kahau said that if her group's actions
inconvenienced other people, "it's probably
because they don't have the understand of who we
are and why we did what we did today."
Former Alaska resident Fred Salter, who recently
moved to California, has visited Hawaii five
times before. The only tourist spot he never
visited was Iolani Palace, which he and his wife
hoped to accomplish yesterday.
Salter said he is a history buff and sympathizes
with the plight of native Hawaiians. He compared
it to the protests of native people in Alaska.
"If you don't have a resolved situation, you're
going to have people that are always at each other's throats," Salter said.
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