Chief Defends HPD After Iolani Palace Response Questioned

HONOLULU -- Multiple investigations have begun into the response by state and city agencies to Friday's takeover of Iolani Palace by sovereignty activists.

The police chief on Monday defended his department's response, saying the Honolulu Police Department committed dozens of officers once it understood the seriousness of the situation.

Correa said his department has begun an internal investigation into the response of a takeover of Iolani Palace.

However, he told reporters that state Department of Land and Natural Resources law enforcement officials placed their first call to a police department spokesman at least one hour into the takeover, asking for help.

Police and state law enforcement eventually arrested 27 people for taking over the Iolani Palace on Friday, the 49th anniversary of Hawaii becoming a state. Police charged six of the Native Hawaiian activists with felony burglary charges.

Iolani Palace staff members have complained that an HPD sergeant told one employee who claimed to have been assaulted by the activists that the state had jurisdiction there and he could not help her.

"One of our employees was assaulted at the gate by the group that's taking over, and the HPD officer who is here just left, and he refused to help," Iolani Palace Executive Director Kippen de Alba Chu told the HPD calltaker.

"He just left?" the calltaker asked.

"He just left. He said it's the responsibility of the state," Chu said on the 911 calls.

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Listen To 911 Calls: Palace Security Calls | Worker Complains About Officer

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The police chief said he is investigating that claim. He pointed out that the sergeant told superiors the woman had been assaulted and called for reinforcements. Correa said HPD eventually sent nearly 60 officers to the scene.

"I want everybody to realize that they are safe and that they are protected at Iolani Palace and we're going to do everything we can do with the state to achieve that goal," Correa said. "Everyone is protected by the Honolulu Police Department, regardless if they're on state property, federal property or on city and county property. So, I really don't like these allegations that there's this boundary between everyone."

Gov. Linda Lingle called Mayor Mufi Hannemann on Monday morning to ask for a meeting about Friday's incident.

The mayor said the state must also take responsibility for Friday's events.

"This is run by a state agency. I think they need to anticipate these types of things happening. We're going into our 50th anniversary year, so I think they can anticipate more of these situations happening. So, I think they need to be proactive on their part," Hannemann said.

The state reopened Iolani Palace grounds on Monday. There was a higher-than-normal state DLNR law enforcement presence.

Visitors were not able to walk the grounds over the weekend.