HONOLULU - Two protesters from the Occupy Honolulu movement were arrested after the city declared that the cement area where the group had been camping is part of a city park.

Occupy Honolulu has been based in tents on the edge of Thomas Square Park since Nov. 5. "We have previously been told that was sidewalk and we can be on it," said Megan Brooker, a leader of the group.

But on Thursday, Mayor Peter Carlisle announced that a city survey was completed to definitely establish the boundaries of the park. The encampment was within that boundary, the city said.

Jim Fulton, the mayor's executive assistant, said Friday that the survey was done because it wasn't clear if the area was part of the park or part of the sidewalk.

City parks are closed between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Police arrived at around 9 p.m. and warned the protesters about the boundaries and that they would have to leave when the park closed, Brooker said. "We don't understand why we were not given warning," she said. "We don't know what prompted this after a month and a half."

When officers returned at 11 p.m., they began moving tents and other items, Brooker said. Items that the roughly 25 campers weren't able to take were loaded onto trucks, she said.

Closing parks involves removing property that's left there, Fulton said.

A 51-year-old woman was arrested for a parks closure violation and a 25-year-old man was arrested, but for outstanding traffic and criminal violations, police said. An 18-year-old was cited for a parks closure violation but not arrested.

Bail was set at $550 for the woman and $900 for the man, Brooker said. "Their group was not expecting these arrests and unfortunately did not have the money to cover bail," she said. The two spent the night in jail.

Occupy Honolulu had been bracing for city officials to target members under a new law that allows officials to remove personal property stored in public areas, including sidewalks, for more than 24 hours. But before items can be removed, officials provide 24 hours' notice.

Thursday's action had nothing to do with the measure, known as Bill 54, Fulton said, adding that implementation details are still being worked out.

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This part was taken from another published piece..V

Police Arrest Occupy Honolulu Protesters

By Sanjeev Ranabhat, Special to Civil Beat 11/06/2011

"We are establishing a camp to address the urgent issues affecting our country. Our political and economic systems do not serve the needs of the people. We stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and the Occupy movement around the world.

"From the occupied ‘āina of Hawai'I, we stand in solidarity with the peoples of occupied lands worldwide. We stand in solidarity with the houseless people who are being forced from the streets and parks they call home as a result of the upcoming APEC meetings.

"We believe that our first amendment rights do not end at 10pm. We will stand our ground to assemble peacefully to petition the government for a redress of our grievances. We will lay by the road in accordance with Kānāwai Māmalahoe, or Law of the Splintered Paddle, which states that we may be free to go forth and lay by the roadside without fear of harm. This is sacred Hawaiian law and a part of the Hawai’i State Constitution, Article 9, Section 10.

"We invoke our rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and the freedom to lay by the roadside without harm. Should the Honolulu Police Department choose to prevent this action, we believe they are breaking the laws set forth by the Constitution of the United States, the Hawai’i State Constitution, and sacred Hawaiian law."