ACTION ALERT! HAWAIIAN SOVEREIGNTY LEADER, INTERNATIONALY RECOGNIZED, JAILED FOR 5 YEARS FOR VISITING ANCESTRIAL LAND. POLITICAL PRISONER SITUATION. ACT NOW!maximum 150 words; this is to present your material and for the search function.
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ACTION ALERT
HAIKU MAN GETS 5 YEARS IN KANAIO TRESPASSING CASE
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2001-THE MAUI NEWS
Wailuku- A Haiku man charged with trespassing on the land he claims is a site of his ancestors’ graves has been sentenced to five years in prison.
James Kimo Akahi, 60, who declares he is Akahi Nui, a sovereign of the Hawaiian kingdom, comntinued to insist in 2nd Circuit Court that he has an interest in land in Kanaio. He said he has a right to visit his ancestors’ graves and to exercise traditional native Hawaiian cultural and religious practices.
Akahi has pleaded no contest to charges of second degree escape and criminal trespass, but reserved his right to appeal the convictions based on his claim of sovereignty. Akahi argues that the court has no jurisdiction over him as a sovereign of the Hawaiian kingdom.
He was arrested Oct. 24, 1997, when three plainclothes Maui police officers went to the Kanaio property in response to landowners’ complaints that Akahi was putting shelters and vehicles including a bus on the property.
Deputy Prosecutor Mark Simonds said the landowner had legal title to the property. But Akahi not only was on the land but had invited others to occupy the lot.
“This is a trespass that goes well beyond any visitation rights or native Hawaiian gathering rights,” Simonds said.
He said Akahi was handcuffed and told he was under arrest. But he was pulled away by his followers, leading to the escape charge. Some of the followers blocked the police officers when they tried to pursue Akahi.
He was arrested five days later when officers spotted him at Maui Mall in Kahului.
Co-defendant Terry Kaahanui, 45, of Kahului, who was among the supporters who pulled Akahi away from the officers, has pleaded no contest o second degree escape as an accomplice. He also reserved his right to appeal based on the argument that the court has no jurisdiction.
Second Circuit Judge Shackley Raffetto sentenced Kaahanui to 30 days in jail, and placed him on five years probation, and ordered him to perform 100 hours community service.
But the judge said he didn’t believe Akahi would benefit from probation, based on his previous criminal history and behavior during court proceedings. Akahi was convicted of felony burglary and escape in 1962 and had numerous traffic convictions in the 1990’s according to the prosecution.
His group was issuing “Kingdom of Hawaii” license plates , claiming sovereign rights as an independent nation and that the state of Hawaii had no jurisdiction over group members or their properties.
“ There’s no reasonable basis to believe he’ll profit from any kind of probation given his attitude as evidenced throughout the history of this case,” Raffetto said.” I’m left with no other alternative. “
Akahi, Kaahanui and Akahi’s wife, Grace Akahi, were convicted in a 1998 trial for the incidents in Kanaio and at Maui Mall. Grace Akahi served 30 days in jail after being convicted of interfering with police attempts to arrest her husband and scratching a police officer.
But two men were given new trials because the judge had not spoken to them directly about their right to testify during the trial.
This is the transcribed story: Please help a fellow human being by putting pressure on the government agencies to insure his safety and to let them know that the outside world knows what is going on.
Here are some contacts for the government agencies:
2nd Circuit Court
Judge Shackley F. Raffetto 808-244-2980
Clerks Office
Legal documents 808-244-2967
Mayor of Maui’s ofiice
808-270-7855
Maui Community Correctional Center
Administrative 808-243-5860
Governor’s liason Office
808-243-5798
Rep Cynthia Henry Tielen
808-586-6480
President of the Senate
808-586-6870
Senate Clerks office
808-586-6720
Justice Department US Attorneys Office
808-541-2850
US Congresswoman
Mink Patsy T 808-242-1818
Please call and give concern on this political prisoner situation and let them know that you disapprove and spread the word to all networks …This is an Action Alert to protect his life and his family.
We need the government offices petitioned over the net, putting pressure for his appeal case
He needs financial help, donations for his case!!
This broadcast was brought to you by friends of the Hawaiian People and please Help
ALOHA ( LOVE )
This is a human collective effort..We’ve let you know now its up for all to come to the aid….
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