KAILUA-KONA — The state’s Intermediate Court of Appeals Tuesday dismissed a Hawaii man’s claim that he is “not subject to the governance” of the state, instead arguing he is a national of the Hawaiian Kingdom. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA — The state’s
KAILUA-KONA — The state’s Intermediate Court of Appeals Tuesday dismissed a Hawaii man’s claim that he is “not subject to the governance” of the state, instead arguing he is a national of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
The man, Ronald Dale Cawthon, was appealing a conviction for driving without a valid driver’s license and driving without motor vehicle insurance.
In his appeal, Cawthon argued that the District Court of the 3rd Circuit, which covers Hawaii County, lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.
Cawthon argued that because there was no “proper transfer of sovereign power” between the Hawaiian Kingdom to the United States, both the kingdom and state of Hawaii operate in the island chain.
Because he argues his nationality is in the Hawaiian Kingdom, he said, he isn’t subject to the governance of the state.
The appeals court, however, dismissed that argument.
Quoting Hawaii Supreme Court precedence, the court said that “whatever may be said” of the state’s origins, it is “now, a lawful government.”
“Individuals claiming to be citizens of the kingdom and not of the state are not exempt from application of the state’s laws,” stated the order.
As a result, the order stated, the lower court’s judgment was upheld.
