Native Hawaiian protesters lock gates, take over palace in Honolulu
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A Native Hawaiian group has locked the gates of Iolani Palace and taken over the grounds of the major downtown Honolulu tourist attraction.
An anti-statehood group calling itself Hawaiian Kingdom Government says it will occupy the palace grounds indefinitely. It says it will start carrying out the business of what it considers the legitimate government of the Hawaiian Islands.
Unarmed security guards from the protest group blocked all gates to the palace next to the state Capitol.
Kingdom leader Mahealani Kahau says the group doesn't recognize Hawaii as a US state. She says supporters plan to keep the protest peaceful and if evicted will return later.