Honolulu Civil Beat reports
Native Hawaiians who believe they are citizens of the Hawaiian Kingdom — not the United States — nonetheless spent Thursday in an American court defending themselves against charges they trespassed on the grounds of their rightful seat of government, Iolani Palace.
Weeks after invoking their Hawaiian sovereignty rights before a Honolulu judge, the 23 demonstrators arrested at Iolani Palace in November showed up to stand trial in Honolulu District Court.
Those arrested, members of the self-proclaimed Aupuni O Ko Hawaii Pae Aina/Hawaiian Kingdom Government, are charged with second-degree criminal trespassing for refusing to leave palace grounds after hours on Nov. 7. The defendants had argued at their arraignments that they were not U.S. citizens, but “living sovereigns” of the kingdom of Hawaii.
Although they believe they are under the jurisdiction of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the defendants appeared in court because they felt it’s important to defend their actions and prove they did nothing wrong, says Mahealani Kahanaoi.
And they did nothing wrong. The US is derelict in its duty of maintaining Hawaiian Kingdom law while it occupies its government and lands. The US has no right to impose its laws on Hawaiians. We need and want a Free Hawai’i now!
Just like in the Bible, Akua says let my people GO!
Paakikipopo and pepeaukuli, bum-by they learn!!
united states has no jurisdiction in the Kingdom; go away!!!
IT is sad that our people have to deal with this type fales remarks due to lack of understanding of what was taken. We are trying to reasume and restart our destiny to move with the power of god.