Iolani Palace Protesters Invoke Sovereignty Rights
The protests at Iolani Palace on Monday may have been peaceful. But the demonstrators seemed to have more of an edge in the courtroom.
A Honolulu judge on Tuesday released 19 Hawaiian sovereignty protesters, but not before indignant exchanges with the prosecutor.
When their legal names were read aloud by the state attorney general, each one objected and asked to have the record reflect often just a Hawaiian first name prefaced with “his highness” or “her highness.”
Each one stated they are not U.S. citizens and are “living sovereigns” of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
The protesters have been charged with second-degree criminal trespassing, a petty misdemeanor, for refusing to leave the palace grounds despite a state order.
And while members of the group Aupuni O Ko Hawaii Pae Aina/Hawaiian Kingdom Government told media Monday night that they would go back to the palace after being released, it’s unclear when they’ll return.
After the arraignment, several declined to talk about next steps and said they planned to rest and celebrate with their families this evening.
“We are going to celebrate with our ohana,” said one of the arrested, Rowena Afoa, who calls herself her highness Hawea. Some of those arrested are Maui and Molokai residents, who plan to return home this evening.
Prosecutors asked the court to bar the protesters from returning to the palace grounds, but the judge refused.
“We sought the geographic restriction not allowing them to return, but the court did not agree,” state attorney Vince Kanemoto, who is handling the prosecution, told Civil Beat after the hearing. “We are disappointed.”
“The state is committed to protecting the Iolani Palace state monument and the people who work in there,” he added. “These people were arrested for trespassing because when ordered to vacate the premises, they refused to do so.”
Shackled in Court
The protesters were led in to the Kaneohe District courtroom with metal shackles around their ankles. Some were barefoot. Many looked exhausted.
Family, friends and supporters filled all but two of the courtroom’s ten wooden benches.
The public defender assigned to represent the 19 told Judge Michael Tanigawa that the protesters were peaceful at the time of their arrest, and noted that most have no prior arrests.
“This was peaceful, no one was hurt, this was not violent,” the public defender said. “If they do reenter the palace, the cops can be called and they will be arrested.”
They are scheduled to appear in court Jan. 12.
Police with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources on Monday night arrested 23 members of the group, who locked the gates of the palace Sunday night.
The locks came down Monday morning and the palace opened for business. But that afternoon the Hawaii attorney general announced the palace would be closed for the duration of APEC “for the protection of the area.”
(Three of the protesters were released Monday night due to health reasons, while a fourth posted bail and was released. Their trial dates are set for Dec. 5.)
The remaining 19 were held at the Kapolei police station until their arraignment Tuesday afternoon at Kaneohe District Court.
‘Living Sovereigns’
Each member of the group refused to enter a plea to their charges.
“I don’t plead at all, I am under the jurisdiction of the Hawaiian Kingdom Government,” Mahealani Kahanaoi, who says she is the elected “head of state” for the group, told the judge. “You do not have my permission or consent to plead for me.”
She said “everything will be referred to our Supreme Court” to handle.
Tanigawa entered not-guilty pleas for them instead.
The public defender told the judge that the 19 have said they “plan to evoke their Hawaiian sovereignty rights,” and indicated they do not want the public defenders office to defend them.
Tanigawa explained that he set the trial date several weeks out in order to “refer all defendants to the public defenders office, or give time to obtain their own counsel.”
Cup-O-Noodles, Jelly Sandwiches
The offenders were fed Cup-o-Noodles instant ramen for dinner at the state Sheriffs Division’s booking station in Kakaako, Afoa said.
They slept on mats on the floors of the Kapolei police station, she said. For breakfast, they were fed water and jelly sandwiches.
DISCUSSION What do you think about the unfolding events? Share your thoughts below.
- Follow APEC 24/7 on our live blog.
