WAIHEE - Police issued 11 citations for trespass Tuesday morning to Native Hawaiian activists camped at Waihee Beach Park since December, and the last members of the Reinstated Hawaiian Government group left the park around 11:15 a.m.
The police action, following what could be called a peaceful standoff, came after last week's county announcement of a Waihee park closure this week for maintenance and beautification.
"Is the county the legal property owner? We want the documents showing they're legal," Nelson Armitage of Haiku said as police vehicles and officers lined the park entrance.
Armitage is the minister of foreign affairs and sole group spokesman.
"The county, state and federal governments don't have legal titles" to the land, he said.
The basis for the Reinstated Hawaiian Government's position is United States Public Law 103-150, or the 1993 Apology Resolution. The document refers to "the sovereign and independent kingdom of Hawaii," whose "people never relinquished their claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people over their national lands."
Armitage said his group's actions were taken in pursuit of sovereignty.
"Inherent sovereignty, that's us," said Armitage. "Inherent sovereignty is the proper claimant (of Hawaii lands). The Reinstated Hawaiian Government is the proper claimant.
"It's not right to possess stolen goods," he said, referring to the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom.
Neither a demonstration nor a confrontation, the laid-back scene depicted sovereignty, Waihee Beach Park style. The event also may have been an advance skirmish leading up to what Armitage said is the April 3 trial of Reinstated Prime Minister Henry Noa on charges of trespassing on Kahoolawe.
"We talked to Henry Noa," Armitage recounted. "He said, 'We need this'" standoff.
Mayor Charmaine Tavares said the activists had camped for several months at Waihee, although camping is not allowed at the park.
"We may not agree on the interpretation of international and federal laws that are being cited, but until the courts can sort out the legality of the situation, our county and law enforcement agencies are bound to fulfill current laws that are recognized by the County of Maui," said Tavares, a former county parks director.
"Our parks department exists to meet the needs of the broader community with parks and recreation services and access. That includes observing rules and regulations regarding camping.
"A group of individuals who identified themselves as the Reinstated Hawaiian Government have occupied the beach park for a few months. Maui police officers have tried to diplomatically resolve the situation. I appreciate that all parties acted respectfully."
At Waihee Beach Park, Armitage was dismissive of the sheaf of white-and-yellow police citations given members of his group.
"We have rights under the rules of law," he said, indicating the citations would be forwarded to attorneys for the group.
"We're taking this to the world courts," Armitage said.
The police apparently won't be the only issuers of citations. Armitage held a clipboard with a list of 19 officers' names neatly printed on yellow-pad paper.
"They give us citations. We give to them, too," he said with a smile.
* Kekoa Enomoto can be reached at kekoa@mauinews.com.
pro civil union vigil Vicky Holt Takaminepro civil union vigil#2pro civil union vigil#3HONOLULU (AP) — The drive to make Hawaii the fifth state in the country to allow same-sex civil unions is on the verge of failing, despite support from most state lawmakers.Senate leaders had planned a vote before the full Senate as early as Tuesday, but deep divisions have emerged over whether Democrats should take an extraordinary legislative step to revive the measure after a tie committee vote.A tie vote in committee usually is enough to kill a measure, but the bill could advance under a rarely used provision of the Hawaii Constitution if more than one-third of senators approve.The Democratic leadership wants more than half the Senate to agree to put the bill before the full Senate. Some rank-and-file senators who support the bill, however, are unwilling to circumvent the normal legislative process.The measure already has passed the Hawaii House.Lawmakers' hesitation comes after more than 6,000 opponents, most of them from religious groups, rallied against the legislation Feb. 22 at the state Capitol. Civil union supporters planned their own event at the Capitol on Saturday."I'm hopeful in the end, the majority can come together and reach a consensus," said Majority Leader Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kauai-Niihau, who supports civil unions.If the bill doesn't come out of committee, the issue may not come up again until near the end of this year's legislative session in May, or lawmakers could decide to drop the issue entirely.Legislators could also compromise by approving a watered-down version of civil unions that affirms gay partnerships but reserves some marital rights for heterosexual couples only. That version would permit same-sex couples or family members to enter into a relationship that provides hospital visitation, inheritance and auto insurance benefits but denies adoption and other parental rights. Additional rights such as health and tax benefits could be added.Sen. Will Espero, who suggested the amendment and would vote against the current civil unions bill, said the compromise means opponents couldn't argue that civil unions are the same as marriage."There's not a sense of rushing and immediacy. We want to do it properly and in a manner we can all get behind," said Espero, a Democrat. "We understand how sensitive the issue is."Other senators have said amending the bill would ruin its chances of passage because that would open a new round of negotiations in committee.A compromise also may be untenable to the gay community, said Alan Spector, co-chair of the Family Equality Coalition."How does one compromise on equality and civil rights? We're being asked to accept less than equality," Spector said.Republican Gov. Linda Lingle has not said whether she would veto the bill if it reaches her desk.Nearly 70 percent of Hawaii voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1998 granting the state Legislature the power to reserve marriage for couples of one man and one woman.Only two states, Massachusetts and Connecticut, allow gay marriage, while Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey and New Hampshire allow civil unions. California, Oregon and Washington allow same-sex couples to enter into domestic partnerships.
___On the Net:HB444: http://capitol.hawaii.gov/
