Ohana Ho`opakele will file a Motion for Summary Judgment to stop the Kulani Prison from opening. Filing will be at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, June 2, 2014 at the Hilo Court House
A public demonstration and press conference will be held at 8 am in front of the “Law of the Splintered Paddle” sculpture in front of Hale Kaulike. (across from the state and county buildings) Come with signs, like “Pu`uhonua, not Prison” or “Act 117 Pu`uhonua at Kulani” or “Pu`uhonua at Kulani.” Also “Justice for Hawaiians”.
Bring your friends (and press types)!
Mahalo and solidarity,
Jim Albertini

Aloha Peace Ohana,
Below is a press release from Ohana Ho’opakele.  If can, come out Monday, June 2, 2014 8AM to the Hilo Court House entrance to support Ohana Ho’opakele’s effort for Pu’uhonua NOT Prisons.  Bring a sign “Pu’uhonua NOT Prisons.” And please pass the word to others.
Mahalo.
Jim Albertini

Press Release on Ohana Ho’opakele Court Motion filed for Summary Judgment against the State of Hawaii to block the reopening of Kulani Correctional Facility (KCF)

further contact: Ohana Ho’opakele President Palikapu Dedman home 959-4930, Treasurer Ronald Fujiyoshi home 959-9775; (cell) 345-9688, Ohana Ho’opakele lawyer Georgette Yaindl 808-224-0219

On Monday, June 2, 2014 at 8:30 AM lawyer Georgette Yaindl, on behalf of Ohana Ho’opakele, its officers and Board members, and two prison inmates, will file in Hilo Circuit Court a Motion for Summary Judgment (MSJ) to prevent the State of Hawaii from reopening the Kulani Correctional Facility (KCF). The MSJ charges the state with failure to properly address issues required by State environmental law, including Act 117 passed in 2012 which directed the State Department of Public Safety (DPS) to work with Ohana Ho’opakele and others to establish a Pu’uhonua at the former KCF unless a better site can be found.

Ohana Ho’opakele President, Palikapu Dedman, says that DPS director, Ted Sakai, “has not taken seriously the requirements of the law in dealing with environmental impacts, especially to native Hawaiians who disproportionately make up more than 60% of Hawaii’s prison population. This is a violation of environmental law and Hawaiian civil rights. Furthermore, Sakai has not proceeded in good faith to follow Act 117 signed into law by Governor Abercrombie designating Kulani to be a Pu’uhonua, not a prison.”

Dedman says, “Ohana Ho’opakele is asking the court to restrain the DPS from reopening KCF as a prison and require the State to complete a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that addresses Hawaiian concerns and Act 117 calling for a Pu’uhonua at Kulani. A Pu’uhonua is an answer to deal with the disproportionate number of native Hawaiians in the prison system in Hawai`i.”

Dedman says, “there are nearly 6000 people locked up under the DPS. More than 3000 are Hawaiians. Ohana Ho’opakele, with the backing of Act 117, is only asking that Kulani, instead of being reopened as a prison, become a model Pu’uhonua for 200 carefully screened pa’ahao with one year left on their sentence. Pu’uhonua is based on healing. Prisons are based on punishment and are proven failures and a waste of tax payers money. In 2014 the DPS budget is $249 million or $41,000 per prisoner. The number of people incarcerated keeps increasing. Hawaii incarceration rates increased 709% between 1980 and 2008.  And now the state is inviting the Private Prison Industrial Complex to Hawaii to profit off the misery of Hawaiians and further fleece the taxpayer.”

Dedman says “The State of Hawaii has an obligation under the Hawaii State Constitution (Article 12, Section 7) to stand up for justice for Native Hawaiians.  A Pu’uhonua at Kulani, not a prison, is a step toward justice that needs to be taken now. That’s what this lawsuit is all about.”

Ohana Ho’opakele officers will be outside the entrance to the Hilo Court House at the Kanawai Mamalahoe sculpture  “Law of the Splintered Paddle” and available for comment at  8AM Monday, June 2, 2014.

“Beacon of Freedom &

American Exceptionalism?”

      I would suggest Presidents Obama and Bush need to read the results of recent international Gallup and other well respected polls showing the U.S. as the world’s greatest threat to peace, the most feared country on earth, by a long shot.  Pakistan came in a distant second.  (http://www.ibtimes.com/gallup-poll-biggest-threat-world-peace-america-1525008)   What country has more prisoners, more people locked up, than any country on earth? It’s not Russia or China.  It’s the so called “land of the Free” — the U.S.A.  As for democracy, recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions make clear the U.S. has the best elections money can buy.  In addition to Congress authorizing military indefinite detention of U.S. citizens, now President Obama claims he has the imperial authority to be judge, jury and executioner through special ops assassinations, and drone strikes on anyone in the world, including American citizens, that he deems an enemy. What happened to the beacon of freedom, due process, consent of the governed, the right to be secure in your person and property, and other basic rights supposedly guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution?

      The question Presidents Obama, Bush, and all Americans should be asking is why do so many people in the world hate and fear the U.S?  Consider the following: The U.S. has between 800-1000 military bases around the world in 150 countries; the U.S. has used military force 120 times against another country since WWII; the U.S. has tried to overthrow 50 countries and grossly interfered in the elections of 30 countries since WWII; the U.S. has bombed civilian populations in 30 countries since WWII including the use of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. (source: www.uslaboragainstwar.org)  And don’t forget the U.S. illegal overthrow and continuing illegal occupation of the Nation of Hawai’i.

      “Beacon of freedom?” If the U.S. wants to be a beacon of freedom to the world, then put words into action and end the U.S. addiction to militarism. Stop sending the poor to fight and die in rich men wars. Redirect the military budget toward meeting human needs and saving the planet. Demonstrate economic and environmental justice. Do as the prophet Isaiah said: “Beat swords into plowshare and spears into pruning hooks and learn war no more.” (Isaiah 2:4.)  Talk is cheap. The time for action is now.  Let us begin to live in peace and harmony with one another and all the earth. Human survival hangs in the balance.

“No More War! War Never

Again!”

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.
5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622. Email:ja@malu-aina.org  http://www.malu-aina.org

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (May 30, 2014 – 662nd week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Read this article if you want to know why many people hate the U.S.

This week Thursday- GMO Debate at UH Hilo

GMO ISSUES: Pro and Con Panel Discussion by Four Experts

UHH – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY BLDG

Science & Tech Bldg. ROOM 108, UHH Campus, Hilo

May29, 2014 4:30pm

Free presentation sponsored by AAUW and UHH Women’s Center.

Pro presenters:

Richard Ha, Hamakua Springs Country Farms/ Hawaii Board Agriculture

Dr. Russel Nagata

County Administrator, UH Manoa, College Tropical Agriculture Human Resources

Con presenters

Councilwoman MargaretWille, Chair County Agriculture/ Sustainability Committee

Dr. Hector Valenzuela, UH Manoa Professor, College of Tropical Agriculture

  Community members who have questions or concerns about this topic are encouraged to attend. There will be an opportunity to have questions answered.
—
Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action