Protest on for 9AM Tuesday, July 1st 9AM Kulani Main gate.  Please pass the word for Pu’uhonua, not prisons.

As expected, Judge Hara denied the motion for the preliminary injunction today against the reactivation of Kulani prison.  Therefore the protest at the Kulani reactivation ceremony on Wed. July 1, 2014 9AM at the Kulani main gate is a go.  See below for background.  Please pass the word.  Mahalo.
Jim Albertini

Press Release on Ohana Ho’opakele’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction to block the reactivation of Kulani Correctional Facility (KCF) set for hearing 2PM, Monday June 30, 2014 in Hilo Circuit Court before Judge Glenn S. Hara

Further contact: Ohana Ho’opakele President Palikapu Dedman (home) 959-4930, Treasurer Ronald Fujiyoshi (home) 959-9775; (cell) 345-9688, Also see www.ohanahoopakele.org and Ohana Ho`opakele on Facebook

      Ohana Ho’opakele’s motion for a preliminary injunction to block the reactivation of Kulani Correctional Facility (KCF) is set for hearing on Monday, June 30^th at 2PM in Hilo Circuit Court before Judge Glenn Hara. At issue if whether the State Department of Public Safety (DPS) violated Hawaii Environmental laws and Act 117 signed into law in 2012 which said Kulani is to be the preferred site for a Pu’uhonua as an alternative to prison.  

     On Friday, June 20, 2014 Judge Hara denied Ohana Ho’opakele’s Motion for Summary Judgment (MSJ). Ohana Ho’opakele president, Palikapu Dedman said, “Watching how easily Judge Hara dismissed our Motion for Summary Judgment when the Attorney General’s lawyers hardly spoke against the motion, it becomes clear to us that the Environmental Assessment is mainly a procedure for the State of Hawai`i to develop whatever they want with just a show of protecting the environment. The process does not stand for the protection of the public and definitely not for protecting the rights of Hawaiians.  We have provided clear evidence that Kulani is on Crown Lands.  Money generated from Kingdom of Hawaii Crown Lands should be used for the betterment of Hawaiians and not to pay public officials working against the interest of Hawaiians.”  The rejection of the MSJ opens the way for the reactivation of Kulani prison with a ceremony set for July 1^st from 10AM-1PM at Kulani. 

     Dedman said, “The Department of Public Safety has been under fire not only for failing to establish a Pu’uhonua at Kulani, but for numerous escapes in the state’s prisons, routine cancellation of prisoners visitation with families, corruption within the system, guard drug trafficking, and now inviting the Prison Industrial Complex to Hawaii to profit off the misery of Hawaiians and further fleece the taxpayer.”

      Dedman said, “The key issues in the case are really being ignored. Those issues are:

1. The disproportionate number of Hawaiians in prison. Native Hawaiians make up more than 60% of Hawaii’s prison population. There are nearly 6000 people locked up under the DPS. More than 3000 are Hawaiians

 2. The prison system is not working. It’s a failed system with a 709% increase between 1980 and 2008, now costing $249 million annually.

3. The Pu`uhonua and the use of ho’oponopono is the best model to heal Hawaiian pa`ahao, families and our communities. It has a proven track record in Hawaiian culture and tradition. The State has to stop oppressing Hawaiians. Together let’s do something positive. A Model Pu’uhonua, not a prison, at Kulani would be a step toward justice. “

      Dedman said, “The Third Circuit Court’s function seems to be just to pass judgment on the first level of review, leaving deeper reviews for the Appeals court level or higher.  The problem with this is the added expense to appeal, making it almost impossible for those with little funding.”

      Dedman said “Ohana Ho’opakele officers and supporters 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 1PM Monday, June 30, 2014. Dedman said, “If Judge Hara rules against Ohana Ho’opakele’s request for a preliminary injunction on June 30th, there will be a protest beginning at 9AM outside the Kulani main gate on Tuesday, July 1^st, when the prison reactivation ceremony at Kulani is planned.”

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Car pools will meet at 8AM Tuesday, July 1 at the Equestrian center near the Panaewa Zoo for the trip to Kulani to protest the reactivation ceremony of Kulani prison. Bring a warm jacket, water and  be prepared for rain.  Please pass the word to others to join in this important protest.  Mahalo.

See below post of Ohana Ho’opakele press release.  Please pass the word.  Mahalo.

Jim

Press Release on Ohana Ho’opakele’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction to block the reactivation of Kulani Correctional Facility (KCF) set for hearing 2PM, Monday June 30, 2014 in Hilo Circuit Court before Judge Glenn S. Hara

Further contact: Ohana Ho’opakele President Palikapu Dedman (home) 959-4930, Treasurer Ronald Fujiyoshi (home) 959-9775; (cell) 345-9688, Also see www.ohanahoopakele.org and Ohana Ho`opakele on Facebook

      Ohana Ho’opakele’s motion for a preliminary injunction to block the reactivation of Kulani Correctional Facility (KCF) is set for hearing on Monday, June 30^th at 2PM in Hilo Circuit Court before Judge Glenn Hara. At issue if whether the State Department of Public Safety (DPS) violated Hawaii Environmental laws and Act 117 signed into law in 2012 which said Kulani is to be the preferred site for a Pu’uhonua as an alternative to prison.  

     On Friday, June 20, 2014 Judge Hara denied Ohana Ho’opakele’s Motion for Summary Judgment (MSJ). Ohana Ho’opakele president, Palikapu Dedman said, “Watching how easily Judge Hara dismissed our Motion for Summary Judgment when the Attorney General’s lawyers hardly spoke against the motion, it becomes clear to us that the Environmental Assessment is mainly a procedure for the State of Hawai`i to develop whatever they want with just a show of protecting the environment. The process does not stand for the protection of the public and definitely not for protecting the rights of Hawaiians.  We have provided clear evidence that Kulani is on Crown Lands.  Money generated from Kingdom of Hawaii Crown Lands should be used for the betterment of Hawaiians and not to pay public officials working against the interest of Hawaiians.”  The rejection of the MSJ opens the way for the reactivation of Kulani prison with a ceremony set for July 1^st from 10AM-1PM at Kulani. 

     Dedman said, “The Department of Public Safety has been under fire not only for failing to establish a Pu’uhonua at Kulani, but for numerous escapes in the state’s prisons, routine cancellation of prisoners visitation with families, corruption within the system, guard drug trafficking, and now inviting the Prison Industrial Complex to Hawaii to profit off the misery of Hawaiians and further fleece the taxpayer.”

      Dedman said, “The key issues in the case are really being ignored. Those issues are:

1. The disproportionate number of Hawaiians in prison. Native Hawaiians make up more than 60% of Hawaii’s prison population. There are nearly 6000 people locked up under the DPS. More than 3000 are Hawaiians

 2. The prison system is not working. It’s a failed system with a 709% increase between 1980 and 2008, now costing $249 million annually.

3. The Pu`uhonua and the use of ho’oponopono is the best model to heal Hawaiian pa`ahao, families and our communities. It has a proven track record in Hawaiian culture and tradition. The State has to stop oppressing Hawaiians. Together let’s do something positive. A Model Pu’uhonua, not a prison, at Kulani would be a step toward justice. “

      Dedman said, “The Third Circuit Court’s function seems to be just to pass judgment on the first level of review, leaving deeper reviews for the Appeals court level or higher.  The problem with this is the added expense to appeal, making it almost impossible for those with little funding.”

      Dedman said “Ohana Ho’opakele officers and supporters 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 1PM Monday, June 30, 2014. Dedman said, “If Judge Hara rules against Ohana Ho’opakele’s request for a preliminary injunction on June 30th, there will be a protest beginning at 9AM outside the Kulani main gate on Tuesday, July 1^st, when the prison reactivation ceremony at Kulani is planned.”

 -30-

Car pools will meet at 8AM Tuesday, July 1 at the Equestrian center near the Panaewa Zoo for the trip to Kulani to protest the reactivation ceremony of Kulani prison. Bring a warm jacket, water and  be prepared for rain.  Please pass the word to others to join in this important protest.  Mahalo.

Drone 

Assassination

A Justice Department memo attempts to rationalize the unthinkable.

The legal memo was made public as the result of a lawsuit filed by the New York Times and the American Civil Liberties Union. Since 2011, the Obama Administration resisted shedding light on the justification. But a federal court ordered the release of the memo…

8 Things You Should Know About the Shocking Legal Memo That Justifies Assassinating U.S. Citizens

http://alturl.com/38387 [Alternet] By Alex Kane [2]

1. The memo is retroactive. 2. Israeli law is cited as a precedent. 3. No evidence is presented. 4. The administration is acting as judge, jury and executioner. No independent oversight is sought, and no independent court had the chance to weigh in on the evidence. The Fifth Amendment, which prohibits being deprived of life or liberty without “due process” is ignored. 5. CIA’s role is acknowledged. The CIA has taken the lead in the drone program, providing a way for the U.S. to shield details of it, since the CIA is a covert intelligence agency. 6. The full justification for the “extrajudicial killings” has not been released.  This legal memo is only one document that civil liberties groups and journalists are seeking.  7. The authorization to use military force (AUMF) is used to justify drone strikes. 8. Release of memo exposes Obama’s secretive administration.  The Obama administration fought tooth and nail to prevent the release of this legal memo, and successfully sought to redact significant portions of the memo. How many U.S. citizens have been assassinated by targeted drone strikes is not known. Three names of U.S. citizens killed by U.S. drone strikes have been made public.

The U.S. has killed thousands of people by drone strikes in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, and possibly other countries. 

Drones train at the Army’s 133,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) in the center of Hawaii Island and other sites throughout Hawaii.

    Stop All the Killing!   

Ground the Drones!

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 (June 27, 2014 – 666th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

http://shar.es/MH5Nh

Click on link above to read Hawaii Tribune-Heard news article.
The state won Friday morning an important ruling in Hilo Circuit Court in its bid to reopen Kulani Correctional Facility.
—
Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org www.malu-aina.org