Officials Pledge Unity In Iolani Palace Security

HONOLULU -- Both the state and the city on Tuesday pledged to work together to assure the security of Iolani Palace as well as those who work and visit there.

State and city law enforcement officials said Tuesday they waited two and a half hours to take back Iolani Palace from protesters Friday because they were waiting for enough manpower to arrive.

The state also admitted it did not have any special armed law enforcement in place at Iolani Palace Friday, which was Admission Day, the 49th anniversary of Hawaii becoming a state.

The police chief and other top state and city officials gathered at the governor's office for an hour and a half meeting.

The state attorney general said the agreed on a few important priorities.

"Someone calls 911, there is going to be a response, and the response will never be 'that's not our jurisdiction,'" Attorney General Mark Bennett said.

Palace employees who asked for help in person and by phone Friday were told by police personnel it was state jurisdiction, and they needed to talk to the Department of Land and Natural Resources instead of the Honolulu Police Department.

"If in fact, there was inappropriate behavior, whatever discipline that needs to be given at that point, we will do that. It's important for the public to have confidence in the police department," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said. "I trust that the state will take this to heart, and not be so quick to finger point the next time we run down this kind of path again. We are committed to working with them."

If incidents such as the takeover happen in the future, there will be a joint, coordinated law enforcement effort with state and city agencies.

"Coordination, sharing of operational plans and working together," Bennett said.

The state now said it will beef up security at Iolani Palace. It has already stationed more law enforcement officers.