US's very own break-away province.
- From: "free.tuneup@xxxxxxxxx" <free.tuneup@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:40:04 -0700 (PDT)
Federal Government need a crack down and declare a police state.
HONOLULU (AP) — A group of Native Hawaiians claiming to be the state's
legitimate rulers occupied the grounds of a historic palace for two
hours before being arrested by state officers in the second recent
takeover of its kind.
A staff member of the Iolani Palace said she was assaulted and
slightly injured during the takeover Friday night, then snubbed by
city police who claimed they didn't have jurisdiction. Gov. Linda
Lingle said Saturday that there would be an investigation into the
police response to the takeover.
A group of men, wearing red shirts with "security" stenciled in yellow
on the back, took over the grounds by chaining the gates of the palace
next to the State Capitol and posting signs saying: "Property of the
Kingdom of Hawaiian Trust."
Kippen de Alba Chu, executive director of the Friends of Iolani
Palace, said he and other staff members were locked down in the palace
and a nearby administration building during the takeover.
"They've got a king, and the king wants to sit on the throne," de Alba
Chu said.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: United States | God | Honolulu | Maui | Natural
Resources | National Historic Landmark | State Capitol | Native
Hawaiians | Department of Land | Haiku | Queen Liliuokalani | Yuen
State law officers climbed over the fence a couple of hours after the
takeover began and made about 22 arrests. Fourteen were arrested for
criminal trespassing, while eight face charges of burglary for
allegedly forcing their way into the palace. The 14 arrested for
criminal trespass were released after they posted $50 bail.
The palace, normally open to tours, will remain closed during the
weekend to assess any damage and to ensure its security, police said.
Ah Yuen, an Iolani Palace employee, said she was assaulted by
protesters and called for help from a Honolulu police officer, who
told her the palace grounds were not under city police jurisdiction.
Witnesses said the confrontation started when Yuen went to the palace
gate and talked with the protesters, who locked the gate with a chain
and then forced their way into the palace itself before officers from
the state Department of Land and Natural Resources came to arrest
them.
Lingle promised an investigation and said the people who invaded the
palace "have to be shown it's not going to be acceptable."
"This is one of the most cherished sites in our state," Lingle said.
"We always have to try to strike a balance between public access and
security for the building and for the people there."
Laura H. Thielen, director of the Department of Land and Natural
Resources, which oversees the palace, condemned the takeover.
"We intend to charge them to the fullest extent of the law," Thielen
said.
The pro-sovereignty group identified its leader as King Akahi Nui, who
was among those arrested. An "occupation public information bulletin"
distributed by a member of the group began: "Majesty Akahi Nui, the
King of Hawaii, has now reoccupied the throne of Hawaii. The Kingdom
of Hawaii is now re-enacted."
Akahi Nui claims to have been coronated in 1998.
Nui, a retired heavy equipment operator from Haiku, Maui, was released
pending investigation. He said Saturday he'll be back.
"I plan it. I know I can take it over. With the help of God, I will
take it over," he said.
The takeover of the palace — built in 1882 when the islands were ruled
by a monarchy — came on Admission Day, a state holiday marking
Hawaii's admission to the United States on Aug. 21, 1959.
Several Native Hawaiian organizations have rival claims to sovereignty
over the islands. Another group calling itself the Hawaiian Kingdom
Government occupied the palace grounds April 30 and has been getting
permits to set up on the grounds each week since then. That group
claims to be operating a functioning government from the palace
grounds.
The ornate palace is operated as a museum of Hawaiian royalty. King
Kalakaua built it, and it also served as the residence for his sister
and successor, Queen Liliuokalani, the islands' last ruling monarch.
Liliuokalani was imprisoned in the palace after the 1893 U.S.-
supported overthrow of the monarchy.
After falling into disrepair, the palace was restored in the 1970s as
a National Historic Landmark. It now includes a gift shop and is open
for school groups and offers tours.
Hawaiian activists have long used the site for protests against the
U.S. control of the islands.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
---------------------------------------------
Most of us remember when Hawaii was stolen from it's natives.
.
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