Hawaiian Sovereignty Activists Barricade Iolani Palace
HONOLULU, HAWAII - Hawaiian sovereignty activists calling themselves the “Hawaiian Kingdom Government” surrounded Iolani Palace this morning, refusing to let state employees either enter or exit the historical site, saying the palace and surrounding grounds are property of the “Hawaiian Kingdom.”
An unknown amount of state employees who work in the state archives division were trapped inside this morning, according to Russ Saito, head of the Department of Accounting and General Services, but since were allowed to leave, his office reports. The dozen employees who work there were sent home for the day. But several had their cars on site and cannot get them out of the palace parking lot. Saito says there are enough protesters to block with a human chain all five entrances and exits to the palace. They also locked the palace gates with their own locks.