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Thursday, January 17, 2019
Police Impersonators Attack OHA Offices, Most Escape Scot-free
By Andrew Walden @ 11:09 PM :: 10597 Views :: Kauai County, OHA, Police

Mugshot: Five time convicted felon and drug dealer Ene Faletogo, one of the five Atooi Marshals arrested at OHA HQ.  A great leader of the Hawaiian people who sometimes sells poison to their children.  (Link: Criminal Transcript.) 

by Andrew Walden

Impersonating a police officer is a crime. 

Waving fake police badges, recidivist criminal police impersonators claiming to be ‘Federal Marshals’ from Kauai today assaulted employees at the State of Hawaii Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  Police let most of the group leave arresting four participants for 3rd degree assault and one for harassment.  None were charged with the far more serious offence of impersonating a police officer. 

This same "Atooi" group has impersonated police officers at numerous protests and public events on Kauai going back to the anti-Superferry protests of 2007.

They continue to benefit from Hawaii’s soft-on-crime policies.

PDF: Criminal Record of Dayne Gonsalves

PDF: Criminal Records of Atooi Marshals Arrested at OHA HQ

Flashback 2015 Video: Crying Police Apologize to Protesters  

Big Q: What’s your general reaction to sovereignty activists storming the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Thursday?  (78% 'Totally Unsympathetic')

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OHA’s statement on today’s incident

News Release from OHA, January 17, 2019

HONOLULU (Jan. 17, 2019) – At 11:40 a.m. today, twelve individuals used force to gain control of the lobby of OHA’s Honolulu office at the Nā Lama Kukui building on 560 N. Nimitz Highway.   They forcibly removed OHA staff from the lobby, occupied the lobby and refused to let OHA staff enter, disrupting OHA business. They assaulted two OHA staff and harassed others.  As a result, the Honolulu Police Department was called.

Ultimately, four individuals were arrested; all were cited for trespass.

Mahalo to Honolulu Police Department for their kōkua today.  OHA’s primary concern is for the safety and well-being of our staff, beneficiaries and building tenants.

Jan 18, 2019: Neighbor Island OHA offices closed until Wednesday 1/18

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Background:

Coverage: 

Police identify the five men arrested

KITV: … 31-year-old Sadhu Bott, 62-year-old Ene Faletogo, 27-year-old Rheece Lopaka Richard Kahawai, 36-year-old Jordan Nainoa Feletogo, and 39-year-old Remedio Dabaluz….

Four of the men arrested were booked for third-degree assault, and their bail was set at $100 each. Dabaluz was arrested for harassment….

read … Police identify the five men arrested

“They’re more in the tradition of cracking heads”

SA: … Men wearing police-type badges and T-shirts proclaiming “federal marshal” took control of the OHA lobby, forcing employees out with threats of violence and intimidation, witnesses said.

Two men were assaulted, including one who was tackled to the floor. Authorities said a 38-year-old man complained of pain but declined treatment.

OHA employee Zuri Aki said there were some tense moments that featured posturing, pushing and threats. A couple of the men told him they were seizing OHA assets, he said.

Dozens of police officers responded to the scene, eventually blocking access to the offices while the standoff continued for nearly two hours.

Police arrested four men, ranging in age from 27 to 62, at 1:45 p.m. on suspicion of third-degree assault. Their bail was set at $100 each. A fifth man, age 39, was arrested on suspicion of harassment.

All five remained in police custody Thursday night, said Michelle Yu, Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman.

During the takeover, employees were presented with “Search and Seizure Warrants” as well as a document claiming the property was registered with the Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi/ Hawaiian Kingdom.

“The real kingdom is back,” one of the Atooi men shouted during a social media livestream…..

The Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi is led by Dayne Aleka Gonsalves of Kekaha, also known as Alii Nui (king) Aleka Aipoalani. Gonsalves has had some run-ins with the law, including the time he was arrested during a Superferry protest in 2007 and when he flashed a kingdom federal marshal badge at a county meeting the same year.

Honolulu attorney James Wright said the group has a reputation on Kauai for being dangerous and violent.

“They don’t hold signs and pule (pray). They’re more in the tradition of cracking heads,” he said.

Wright, who testified in the trial against Majesty Akahi Nui, also known as James Kimo Akahi, the Maui man and self-proclaimed king of Hawaii who briefly occupied Iolani Palace in 2008, said the Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi is well organized, committed and should be taken seriously….

read … Sovereignty group storms OHA

Five men arrested for storming Office of Hawaiian Affairs

KHON: … Shortly before noon Thursday, workers say 12 men stormed the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and said they are occupying the facility. 

Workers say some members of the group had jackets that said "Federal Marshal" on the back. They took over the reception area and scuffled with workers who were trying to go inside.

"They used some physical force to keep people away, they tackled some OHA employees who were trying to go through. Myself, I came into confrontation with a handful of them, for trying to get through," said OHA worker Zuri Aki.

OHA  says two workers were assaulted and others were harassed. Dozens of Honolulu police officers were called to the scene as workers, not just from OHA but the entire building were forced to evacuate.

"What they told me, I asked them, they said we're doing this for the people, we're taking over the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as the lawful government for the people, for the Hawaiian people," said witness Andre Perez.

"From what they told me it's just basically to occupy, utilize OHA's resources as their own maybe. I don't know what they want to do with it, but that's pretty much what they want to do," said Aki.

Workers say the group tried to do the same thing a couple of weeks ago but didn't go quite as far. Native Hawaiians at the scene quickly condemned the Kingdom of Atooi.

"I question their integrity. I question their logic, and I question their complete lack of leadership and the negative precedent that this sets for the Hawaiian community," said Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu.

Just before two o'clock, five men were arrested while the rest of the group left on their own, and the lockdown was lifted.

Four of them were arrested for third degree assault one for harassment. Bail was set at $100 each.

read … Five men arrested for storming Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Native Hawaiians have mixed reactions to OHA occupation

KHON: … "What happened today is a travesty and against the wishes of the Queen. We are in peaceful protest against what has happened to us. We and the Hawaiian Sovereignty movement. And I don't want people to think this is what all Hawaii activists are all about," said Healani Sonoda-Pale of Ka Lahui Hawaii Political Action Committee. 

"They did it in a way that was not with aloha so I guess that's what they're doing, but that's not what we stand for at all. We try to do everything with aloha," said Ruth Bolomet. 

"Everybody, every single individual here, has their own mind and those brothers and sisters who are doing whatever they are doing, I'm not there but we shall see what comes of it," said Kalani Kalima. 

"I think it's brilliant, personally. I don't see this as being anything less pono than the illegal occupation of the Hawaii Kingdom," said Daniel Anthony. "The history of Hawaii we can't change but we can change how we move forward. And if we want to gain respect for one another it starts by sitting down. I hope that this can be a catalyst for that to truly happen."…

read … Native Hawaiians have mixed reactions to OHA occupation

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