2008 occupation of Iolani Palace

2008 protest in Hawaii November 2009 November 2009 thumb|right|Main gate of Iolani Palace In 2008, two attempts were made by separate groups involved in the Hawaiian sovereignty movement to occupy ʻIolani Palace, the home of the last two monarchs of the Hawaiian Kingdom in downtown Honolulu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. April 30 occupation of Iolani Palace grounds At around 9:00 a.m. on the morning of April 30, 2008, roughly seventy members of a group that described itself as the Hawaiian Kingdom Government blocked entrance to the grounds of Iolani Palace in a move to assert the group's purported status as the Hawaiian Kingdom's government. According to the group's leader, Mahealani Kahau, the group put up yellow "No Trespassing" signs at the entrances to the palace grounds to "give awareness and notice to everyone that passes that the Hawaiian Kingdom Government has resumed its lawful status as the seat of government." Following negotiations between the group and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, the state agency with jurisdiction over the palace, the gates were reopened at around 2:00 p.m. No one was arrested.Park Gene Group of Hawaiians occupies Iolani Palace, vows to return http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/05/01/news/story04.html June 5, 2020 Honolulu Star-Bulletin May 1, 2008 The group returned to the palace grounds the following day, but did not block the palace entrances and instead peacefully occupied a portion of the palace's lawn.Pang Gordon Sovereignty group back at palace — minus locks http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/May/02/ln/hawaii805020369.html June 5, 2020 Honolulu Advertiser May 2, 208 June 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200605205304/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/May/02/ln/hawaii805020369.html dead Statehood Day occupation On August 15, 2008, independence proponents occupied Iolani Palace for four hours. The trespassing incident happened on Statehood Day 2008. On August 15, 2008, at 4:30 in the afternoon, 27 members of the so-called Kingdom of Hawaii Nation, a national-independence fringe faction,August 2020 entered the grounds of Iolani Palace. The group was led by James Akahi, who claims descent from Kamehameha I and called himself "Majesty Akahi Nui, King of Hawaii". Purported monarch couldn't find throne Altonn Helen August 17, 2008 Honolulu Star Bulletin http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/08/17/news/story04.html 2020-08-21 Fifteen to twenty members of the group wore red shirts with "SECURITY" printed in yellow on the backs while other members wore black.Honolulu Star BulletinOctober 2013 The purported mission of the group was to establish the palace as a new seat of government, undermine the State government, and declare the independence of Hawaii from the United States. Six to ten employees of the Friends of Iolani Palace, the nonprofit that administers the palace on behalf of the state, and the nonprofit's director, Kippen de Alba Chu, locked down the buildings and locked themselves inside the administrative building, located next to the palace. Facilities manager Noelani Ah Yuen attempted to stop the intruders from locking the east gate and was injured by the trespassers; she also withdrew into the administrative building. The group flew their flag and entered ʻIolani Barracks and Palace. Palace takeover August 16, 2008 Honolulu Star-Bulletin http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/08/16/news/story01.html 2020-08-18 Police end 'Iolani Palace occupation August 15, 2008 Suzanne Roig Gordon Pang Honolulu Advertiser http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Aug/15/br/hawaii80815073.html 2020-08-18 2020-09-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20200904122655/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Aug/15/br/hawaii80815073.html dead During the trespassing incident, a city police officer refused to stop the trespassers because the palace grounds are state property and hence under the jurisdiction of the state police, the HDPS. Police chief Boisse Correa rejected claims his officers committed wrongdoing. Correa defends HPD handling of palace takeover August 18, 2008 Honolulu Advertiser http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Aug/18/br/hawaii80818058.html 2020-08-18 2020-09-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20200904115638/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Aug/18/br/hawaii80818058.html dead Seven members of the group were arraigned on burglary charges. Hawaiian group claims that court lacks jurisdiction October 3, 2008 Honolulu Star-Bulletin http://archives.starbulletin.com/content/20081003_Hawaiian_group_claims_that_court_lacks_jurisdiction 2020-08-21 Charges against six were dismissed, and James Akahi was acquitted of felony burglary charges, but convicted of simple trespass and fined. Akahi avoids a conviction for burglary August 1, 2009 Honolulu Star-Bulletin http://archives.starbulletin.com/content/20090801_Akahi_avoids_a_conviction_for_burglary 2020-08-21 Two group members were tried for assaulting an employee of the palace and acquitted. Palace assault trial ends in acquittals August 15, 2009 Arizona Daily Star AP https://tucson.com/news/national/palace-assault-trial-ends-in-acquittals/article_4251d85e-3539-53a7-b81b-4cb04541ba4a.html 2020-08-21 See also Aboriginal land claim Hawaiian sovereignty movement Legal status of Hawaii Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom Wilcox rebellions References Category:Native Hawaiian history Category:Hawaiian sovereignty movement Occupation of Iolani Palace Category:Attempted coups d'état in the United States Occupation of Iolani Palace Occupation of Iolani Palace Iolani Palace Occupation of Iolani Palace Occupation of Iolani Palace