Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 8, 1 August 1999 — ʻAha Kua defends in trespass action [ARTICLE]

ʻAha Kua defends in trespass action

' : ■ ■ ' y f ::t ' Eleven raembers of 'Aha Kua, Kanaka United for Action went on trial before District Judge Fa'auuga To'oto'o on July 13. Charged with simple trespass, they had been arrested while demonstrating at Honolulu International Airport last January in a non-violent effort to collect revenues the State of Hawai'i owes for use of those ceded lands. Defense attorneys Ninia Parks, Williamson Chang, Lewis Pinauh and Ho'oipo Pā moved to dismiss the case on the grounds that the state lacked proper jurisdiction over the defendants and that the state lacked the proper authority to exclude them from ceded lands. The defense also requested the case be removed to federal court, a motion whieh will be heard Aug. 3 at 1 :30 p.m. in district court. "We are the evidence, not the eiime," insisted Reverend Kaleo Patterson, director of the Hawai'i Eeumenieal Council and a defendant in the case. "This state persecutes Hawaiians whenever we confront them about the crimes they are committing against us. It is really the state that is on trial for stealing from Hawaiian families and ehildren." A stew and rice fundraiser held the evening of July 12 attracted 80 people and raised $1085 toward the expenses of the defense. Many of these supporters were present in the court room. ■