Protesters Occupy Hawaiian Palace In Peace

The Hawaiian Kingdom Government Group Does Not Recognize The Islands As A U.S. State

(AP)  A Native Hawaiian group that advocates sovereignty briefly occupied the grounds of a historic palace in downtown Honolulu, saying it would carry out the business of what it considers the legitimate government of the islands.

Unarmed security guards from the Hawaiian Kingdom Government group blocked all gates to the grounds of the palace, which is adjacent to the state Capitol. They did not enter the building itself.

After several hours, the protesters agreed to reopen the gates but said they would remain on the grounds until early evening and return Thursday. No arrests had been made as of mid-afternoon.

Laura Thielen, state land director who oversees the palace area, said some of the protesters could still be charged.

"This is public property and they can't block public access," she said.

Protest leaders had said they were prepared to be arrested and would go peacefully.

Mahealani Kahau, elected "head of state" of the group years ago, said the organization does not recognize Hawaii as a U.S. state but would keep the occupation peaceful.

"The Hawaiian Kingdom Government is here and it doesn't plan to leave. This is a continuity of the Hawaiian Kingdom of 1892 to today," Kahau said.

The group is one of several Hawaiian sovereignty organizations in the islands, which became the 50th U.S. state in 1959.

The ornate Iolani Palace is operated as a museum. Hawaiian King Kalakaua built it in 1882, and it also served as the residence for his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani, the islands' last ruling monarch.

It was neglected after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 and restored in the 1970s as a National Historic Landmark. It includes a gift shop and is open for school groups and paid tours.

"The Hawaiian Kingdom Government is here and it doesn't plan to leave. This is a continuity of the Hawaiian Kingdom of 1892 to today," said Kahau, who was elected head of state of the group seven years ago.

The protesters are not damaging anything in the palace grounds, Kahau said. Workers inside the palace itself had locked the doors and were not letting them inside.

"We will not resist, we won't fight, we won't be aggressive. But we'll be back for sure," Kahau said.

No matter what happened Wednesday, the protesters planned to return to the palace Thursday, she said.

State Sen. Kalani English - a Native Hawaiian and a Democrat from East Maui-Lanai-Molokai - came over from the Capitol to speak with some of the protesters, and had his staff take them food.

"This is the manifestation of the frustration of the Hawaiian people for the loss of sovereignty and land," English said.

"It is symbolic. This made a statement. It got the word out about the plight of the Hawaiian people," he said.

Richard Kinney, who described himself as an independent Hawaiian nationalist, said he went to the Capitol to show his support. He carried an upside-down Hawaii state flag, signaling distress.

"The sovereignty of these islands is inherent to the Hawaiian people, and we've never relinquished that," he said.

"Occupying any land, including Iolani Palace, is the beginning," Kinney said.

Kippen de Alba Chu, executive director of Iolani Palace, issued a statement that said the protesters delivered a written message to palace officials claiming the grounds as the seat of their government.

"While we respect the freedom of Hawaiian groups to hold an opinion on the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, we believe that blocking public access to Iolani Palace is wrong and certainly detrimental to our mission to share the palace and its history with our residents, our keiki (children) and our visitors," Chu said.

[okupau]

ONIPA''A- STEADFAST HAWAIIANS... WITH THE GRACE OF GOD AND TRUTH ON YOUR SIDE YOU WILL BE TRIUMPHANT IN YOUR MISSION TO RIGHT THE WRONGS DONE TO OUR PEOPLE. YOUR BEAUTY , RESPECT, AND PEACEFUL WAYS WILL EARN YOU A SPOT IN THE HISTORY BOOKS AS HOW THE WORLD CAN BE.

[michellem99-2009]

Dear Frank,
I am 53. No I don''t know every thing and ye know far more than I. I have lived in many places in this nation. My friend lived half his life over there HI before I met him. Ye so right about bush and I am appalled at his lies. They won''t break away the aid their state gets. No state will. I want to thank ye dear vet. He pulled us in a war congress did not declare. All lies.

[frankbowers]

noloyalist head back to mexico or where ever I sm sick of the illegal aliens stealing and robbing my country''s bank account know as the social security.
THEY ARE (ALL THE) ILLEGAL ALINES WITH THEIR WOMEN AND KIDS AND NEED TO LEAVE AT ONCE OR DIE TRYING, THEY CAN TAKE YOU WITH THEM. FRANK BOWERS

[frankbowers]

MichelleM99, I was in the US Army and was ion Hawii the people in the early 50''s seem to all like the US and what had been done there since the bombing of Pearl. I guess if you look for enough or tell a little lie you can come up with any thing. Just look what gw bush came up with about Iraq and its people.
By the way MichelleM99 what are you such a historian you can only be in your 50''s at best.

Thde best of good byes Frank Bowers

[frankbowers]

AMEN TO KING16X, Those islanders would hate the US just as bad as the folks in Iraq, Iran, and Afgan. that is what happens when you are bombed and shelled into a total waste land like what gw bush with dic chenneys and karl rove''s help.
all did with lies and deceit.
The best of good byes Frank Bowers down in Austin, TX

[king16x]

If the United States had not taken control of Hawaii in the 1890''s then Japan would have taken control of Hawaii in the 1930''s.

World War II would have been much different. The attack on Pearl Harbor would have been an attack by the U.S. against Japan. The United States would have been fighting Japan for years throughout the Hawaiian islands, the Hawaiian people would have hated the United States, and the war would have continued until 1947.

[noloyalisti]

I am glad to see any non-white group of people speak up for justice especially in this time of the immoral crackdown on immigrant groups. It is also good to see on this May Day that people are tying together the illegal and immoral invasions with the treatment of non-whites rights in this country.

No worker is illegal and end the war NOW!!!!

[gopack443]

American version of Tibet?

[mbcsmith]

Posted by forthepeopl1 at 09:11 AM : May 01, 2008

Ok, who left the door to the looney bin open

[forthepeopl1]

PEOPLE - - BEGIN TO RESEARCH and PROBE THIS ! ! ! !

SPECIAL "CLOSED SESSION" OF U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Word has begun leaking from last nights special,
Closed-door session of the United States House of Representatives.
Not only did members discuss new surveillance provisions as was the publicly stated
Reason for the closed door session, they also discussed :

1. The Imminent Collapse of the U.S. economy to occur by September 2008
2. The imminent collapse of US federal government finances by February 2009
3. The possibility of Civil War inside the USA as a result of the collapse
4. Advance round-ups of "insurgent U.S. citizens" likely to move against the Government
5. The Detention of those rounded-up at "REX 84" camps constructed throughout the USA,
6. The possibility of retaliation against members of Congress for the collapses
7. The Location of "safe facilities" for members of Congress and their families
To reside during expected massive civil unrest
8. The necessary and unavoidable merger of the United States with Canada
(for its natural resources) and with Mexico (for its cheap labor pool)
9. The issuance of a new currency - THE AMERO -
For all three nations as the proposed solution to the coming economic armageddon.

Members of Congress Have Been FORBIDDEN to reveal what was discussed
Several are so furious and concerned about the future of the country,
they have begun leaking info.