[News] Native Hawaiians occupy palace grounds

[Anti-Imperialist News]

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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