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Report of Ku’e Action Protesting Abercrombie’s Inauguration at ‘Iolani Palace
The Ku’e Action was fantastic! At about 9:30AM our gang processed mauka on Mililani Street sounding the pu and flying hae
Hawaii and banners. The procession crossed over King Street and we situated
ourselves right at the main gate of the palace. The small side gate was the only
point of entrance for the guests and public. About six HPD officers who were
standing in the driveway moved aside and eventually disappeared, leaving the
front gate for us to occupy.
Positioning ourselves at the front gatemeant the general public, political cronies, rank and file soldiers of the
Democrat party, and practically every lesser dignitary, had to walk past us.
That included the cabinet members (like Bill Aila), OHA trustees, state
department heads, etc. It also included the media.
Needless to say,without even trying, we got a lot of attention and made a considerable impact
with our striking banners and signs. Everyone at the inauguration had at least
an inkling that Hawaiians were not pleased with the proceedings.
Themedia was very responsive. As spokesperson, I handed out press statements and
gave comments to all four TV news channels, Hawaii Public Radio, KHVH, Civil
Beat, etc. For example, at least half of the story tonight (at the bottom of
each hour) on KHVH about the inauguration, mentions our protest and that
Hawaiians activists consider it a “slap in the face,” especially since Linda
Lingle had her inauguration at the state capitol in 2002.”
Once theceremonies were underway at the coronation stand, the ones with the taller
banners and the flags walked Ewa on King then turned mauka on Richards Street
and walked up and down Richards a few times. This way the entire audience of
about 5,000 had an irresistible and unavoidable view of Hawaii Independence
banners and hae Hawaii moving in the background as Shatz and Abercrombie took
their oaths of office. It was priceless theater!
As the crowd filed outafter the ceremonies, again through the one gate, many of them greeted us with
encouragement. The OHA trustees, however, were apparently not amused and kept
their gaze strictly forward as they walked past us toward their Kapiolani Blvd.
offices. You could feel their utter disdain for us from 20 feet away.
The demonstration was a total success. Even though we lacked numbers,the two dozen who came, the visual aids and the simple honesty of our message
was enough to carry loud and strong. Once again, this rag-tag bunch of activists
managed to majorly co-opt another Fake State event!
Mahalo nui toall!
KU’E
Leon
Comments
I caught the bus to get there and back home. I carried my sign onboard the bus and had a few looks of curiosity. I was hoping I would've been approached to discuss our issues; but no takers. LOL... When I got home, I slept through the night. Auwe no ho'i e! I still need to gain my stamina back to what it used to be.
I was glad that I was able to be there; also saw a lot of people I knew that attended the ceremony. Repositioning to the main gate was a stroke of genius; everyone couldn't miss the signs as they were a captured audience waiting to get onto the grounds. Many took pictures of the group and their signs; a few stopped by to kukakuka. To know us is to love us, eh? LOL
Tane
Long Live The Hawaiian Kingdom, o Pomaikaiokalani, Hawaiian National Royalist 1993