Posted on 04/30/2008 5:21:48 PM PDT by kaehurowing
Hawaiian Sovereignty Activists Barricade Iolani Palace
An Unknown Amount of State Workers Trapped Inside
By Malia Zimmerman, 4/30/2008 9:19:10 AM
HONOLULU, HAWAII - Hawaiian sovereignty activists calling themselves the "Hawaiian Kingdom Government" surrounded Iolani Palace this morning, refusing to let state employees either enter or exit the historical site, saying the palace and surrounding grounds are property of the "Hawaiian Kingdom."
An unknown amount of state employees who work in the state archives division were trapped inside this morning, according to Russ Saito, head of the Department of Accounting and General Services, but since were allowed to leave, his office reports. The dozen employees who work there were sent home for the day. But several had their cars on site and cannot get them out of the palace parking lot. Saito says there are enough protesters to block with a human chain all five entrances and exits to the palace. They also locked the palace gates with their own locks.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is in charge of enforcement in the area. Laura Thielen, this agency's director, says "A group of about 35 persons have barred the public from entering the grounds of Iolani Palace, claiming sovereign rights over the area. The Department of Land and Natural Resources State Parks, which manages the palace in cooperation with the Friends of Iolani Palace is closing the area. DLNR enforcement offices are working to fully assess the situation and are talking with the protesters to peacefully end the protest. We will continue to update the public as we get more information."
The palace's web site describes the palace as "A Hawaiian national treasure and the only official state residence of royalty in the United States, `Iolani Palace was the official residence of the Hawaiian Kingdom's last two monarchs--King Kalakaua, who built the Palace in 1882, and his sister and successor, Queen Lili`uokalani. During the monarchy period, the Palace was the center of social and political activity in the Kingdom of Hawaii. Though its grandeur was neglected after the overthrow of the monarchy, restoration began in the 1970s through efforts of concerned individuals. Restoration and preservation continues, and, as a result, today's visitors to this National Historic Landmark in downtown Honolulu enjoy one of the most precise historic restorations and learn much about Hawaiian history and heritage." Tom McAuliffe, who works across the street, says he arrived at work this morning at 8 a.m. for the near last day of the 2008 Legislative session and found the gates to the palace locked with signs posted saying the place now belongs to the "Reinstated Hawaiian Kingdom."
"I asked to be allowed to pass on to the grounds and was told that only native Hawaiians were allowed in and that I needed to show an 'OHA registration card' or recite my family genealogy. When I explained that the Kingdom was multi-racial and that a distant relative (an Irish whaler) was a citizen of the kingdom I was told that did not matter. We then called the police (both Public Safety and Honolulu Police Department) at around 8:45 a.m. but it took quite a while for them to arrive on scene. The state Sheriff's department showed up at 11:15 a.m. - but at 12:15, there was still no Honolulu Police on site. My assertion to the protesters was that the Palace belongs to all the people of Hawaii nei, but that also fell on deaf ears."
They seek, in line with pending legislation in Congress, to establish a racially segregated government preliminary to taking Hawaii out of the union.
See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akaka_Bill
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apology_Resolution
Despicable.
If they succeed, good luck. Every wing-nut in the lower 48 will be looking for a few good people who can prove their blood lines precede the arrival of the Europeans.
The west would be gone in a flash. I can’t see how any present U.S. territory could be safe from such claims.
Isn’t it interesting how many different forces are trying to take the United States down by any means possible, even both sides of the Presidential race this year?
Never a SWAT team around when you really need one...
10 years max before you see this happening all over the SW.
If they left the Union, would Hawaii defend itself then? Fend off the Chinese perhaps? Or the N. Koreans?
Or do these fools even think one step beyond their own anarchy?
Pfft!
Give them the Kamehameha treatment and frog march them off the Pali’s cliffs, then.
On a positive note...we’ll get to re-take it....sweep and clear...no prisoners.
Give the miserable buggers their independence. No more left wing crap from them in our legislature, no special monies sent to the islands. The buggers would be attached to China quicker than spit and then learn how to “belong.”
We need to tell them the same thing we tell the Indians here on the Mainland: “You lost. We won. Deal with it. ‘cuz we ain’t giving any of it back.”
“If they left the Union, would Hawaii defend itself then? Fend off the Chinese perhaps? Or the N. Koreans?”
First of all, this is a limited faction...albeit one that has been active for some time.
They’re not going anywhere. First, this doesn’t mesh with the views of most Hawaiians. Second, there’s waaaay too much money tied in from the mainland to let that happen.
The funny part of all this is that the Iolani Palace represents the very western civilization institution that these separatists claim to despise for introducing the white devil to their islands. They do love their British style monarchy though. Haoles- not so much.
Hey Brudda...why you no go surf Makapu? Kalua da kine pig. Leave governing to adults.
LOL, you may have a point there.
First one to get behind the gate of the palace gets to be king?

"Book 'em, Danno.
It would be excellent if this protest loses votes for the Akaka bill, unfortunately supported by the Hawaiian congressional delegation and the RINO governor.
State’s Rights anyone?
Only one thing to do with secessionists: SHOOT THEM DEAD!!!
Clear the streets.
I like the way you think ;<)
Even though they are just humble indigenous people seeking to restore something they don’t know anything about, they are still in a state of insurection and the should be shot summarily. Multiculturismmmmmmmmmm. Baahhhhhhhhhh. Humbuggggggg.
Its a tad extreme, but you need to nip these sorts of things in the bud quickly before the secessionists gain momentum.
We should declare these idiots to be rebels and then charge them with Treason.
Hey, bra... just you don’t touch my roast pig alright.
I know the US didn’t handle their statehood very well (at ALL)...typical bonehead government bureauacracy; but this is now, and none of us, today, have done anything but help bring Hawaii the dollars and SENSE of the 21st century.
whoops - bureaucracy
I just spent 15 days in Hawaii...beautiful country, but the people are lazy as hell...
Ironic how many of these independentites I saw had adopted American Thug culture.
Just have a plebiscite and be done with it.
You try to shoot ME, and you will be in for a big suprise, Bubba. This Texan secessionist probably has a BIGGER gun than you!
Zippy's delivers? lol
Doesn’t Texas have the right to split into five States?
I wonder if that idiot from Punahou will be asked about this... I doubt it.
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.
This idiot, and others like him, need to understand that only the Monarch had sovereignty in the Kingdom of Hawai'i. That's how it works in a monarchy. Only Queen Liliuokalani, not the Hawai'ian people, lost sovereignty when the Kingdom of Hawai'i was overthrown.
We need to tell them the same thing we tell the Indians here on the Mainland: You lost. We won. Deal with it. cuz we aint giving any of it back.
The white man may have taken the Indians’ land, but now he’s in the casinos paying for it;)
I wonder if Michael was among them?
Well, considering the US itself has supported similar efforts in Europe (Kosovo and Bosnia), the US State Department needs finally admit how stupid those policies were. Next, the Russians and the Chinese will threaten to bomb Washington if they don’t allow the Hawaiians to have self determination.
These guys get out of hand every once in a while. The police don’t seem to want to do anything about it most of the time. No doubt they got robbed, no question about that. The problem is how to remedy the situation and do it peacefully.
Upper Michigan should secede....
Put it to a vote and good luck.
Socal ha already been overrun with the biggest city being run by advocates for Mexican citizens.
That was my first thought, too! Ask Obama about it! He lived there. Let’s see him disown those folks, too! LOL
No.
Moreover, the issue of forming five states is governed by Article IV, Section 3 of the "Old" US Constitution,
"New states may be admitted by the Congress into this union; but no new states shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned as well as of the Congress"
The treaty that contained all of these special exceptions was for the first admission into the Union. Texas re-entered in 1865 under very different terms.
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