"While we respect the freedom of Hawaiian groups to hold an opinion on the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, we believe that blocking access to Iolani Palace is certainly detrimental to our mission to share the palace and its history with our residents, keiki and visitors."

"As a matter of historical record, we wish to point out that the original seat of government of the Hawaiian Kingdom was NOT Iolani Palace. The Palace was the royal RESIDENCE. Government activities were carried out in the original Courthouse, then later in Aliiolani Hale."

The palace and the grounds briefly were occupied in June 2006 by a group calling itself Hui Pu.

About two dozen native Hawaiian activists chanted, sang and hung banners and upside-down state flags from the second floor of Iolani Palace. The leader of the group, Ikaika Hussey, said that Hui Pu represented a coalition of native Hawaiians opposed to the federal recognition bill pending in Congress.