Eight Puna residents were arrested for allegedly squatting in a Kurtistown home after being ordered to leave multiple times and attempting to claim immunity because of Hawaiian sovereignty.
Eight Puna residents were arrested for allegedly squatting in a Kurtistown home after being ordered to leave multiple times and attempting to claim immunity because of Hawaiian sovereignty.
The group was living in a foreclosed property on Kapalai Road, police said, and the real estate agent attempted to have them leave.
State sheriff’s deputies served an eviction notice on July 25. Some of the adults were confrontational and refused to identify themselves, police said. All 12 people, which included four children, eventually left the property with their belongings. Later on the real estate agent changed the locks on the door.
Deputies returned to the house on Aug. 5, after a report that the house had been reoccupied. When they arrived they saw a woman “who immediately went inside, secured the door and refused to come out, arguing that she had Hawaiian Sovereignty rights allowing occupancy of the house and property,” police wrote.
Officers could hear other people in the home and told the occupants they would be returning.
They came back on Friday, when they surrounded the home “prepared to force entry into the home if necessary.”
The people inside opened the door and all eight adults exited, where they refused to be fingerprinted or photographed, claiming Hawaiian sovereignty.
No children were in the home and the Humane Society was contact to remove seven dogs.
The following persons were arrested and charged with first-degree criminal trespassing:
Barbara Elderts, 83; Herman Elderts Jr., 37; Herman Elderts Sr., 65; Victoria Elderts, 58; William Elderts, 73; Sarah Kanuha, 35; Shaun Kanuha, 40; and Tiana Kaniaupio, 19, were arrested. Their individual bonds were set for $1,000.