Plaintiffs Remain Confident in Case Against Na'i Aupuni Election
Grassroot Institute says case will proceed in Ninth Circuit after Supreme Court denies contempt motion
News Release from Grassroot Institute
HONOLULU, HAWAII--January 19, 2015--Today, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii issued comments on the case against the Na'i Aupuni election. While the Court rejected the argument that the Na'i Aupuni was using the Native Hawaiian Roll in a way that violated their injunction, the suit against the race-based and unconstitutional election is still going forward. The Court denied a motion for civil contempt filed when Na'i Aupuni chose to seat all the delegates in their disputed election, thereby ignoring an injunction order from the court not to proceed with the election or certify winners.
The attempt to bypass the election was seen by many as a high-handed attempt to dodge the Constitutional challenge. However, those involved in the case stressed that they have no intention of giving up. The case is currently before the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
"The Supreme Court has only denied a temporary remedy related to our case," said Keli'i Akina, Ph.D., President of the Grassroot Institute and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. "We remain confident that when the full case is argued before the Ninth Circuit Court or Supreme Court, it will prevail on its merits. In the end, we expect the US Constitution to be upheld for the benefit of Native Hawaiians and all people of Hawaii."
"Regardless of what happens in the courts, this case has successfully exposed the agenda of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Na'i Aupuni and the state when it comes to their nation-building scheme," Dr. Akina continued. "They do not truly represent the people they purport to speak for. The public resources they are expending would be better utilized providing Hawaiians access to housing, job training, education, and health care."
For background documents, see: http://new.grassrootinstitute.org/2015/10/akina-v-hawaii-the-documents/
* * * * *
U.S. Supreme Court Declines To Hold Native Hawaiian Election Group In Contempt
From Lexis Legal News (excerpt)
(January 19, 2016, 2:19 PM ET) -- HONOLULU — The U.S. Supreme Court today denied a request by challengers to an election of Native Hawaiians to find the nonprofit organization conducting the election in civil contempt of the court’s prior injunction halting the election pending appeal (Keli’i Akina, et al. v. Hawaii, et al., No. 15A551, U.S. Sup.).
…
On Dec. 15, Na’i Aupuni stopped the election process but said the convention would still go on, with all 196 delegate candidates invited to attend.
In response to Na’i Aupuni’s announcement, the challengers on Dec. 22 filed a motion for civil contempt with the Supreme Court on the ground that Na’i Aupuni was certifying the winners of the election in violation of the court’s prior injunction.
“The motion of applicants Keli’i Akina, et al. for civil contempt is denied,” the high court said….
read … Declined Contempt
PDF: Supreme Court Order (see pg 1)
COVERAGE: