We survived another anniversary yesterday, despite having to cancel out of lunch at the Academy of Arts because parking was impossible, and then almost not finding a parking space in Kaimuki, our fall back option.

But we did manage stops at Savers in Kalihi (where Meda was able to use her $3 coupon) and at the Kaimuki Goodwill, where she found a yellow Santa Anita bowl that just matches one set of coffee cups that we use. I’ll have a photo in a day or two. And, no, she didn’t buy the white wedding dress we saw at Goodwill.

This is our annual period where the fun never stops–anniversary (#39) was yesterday and my birthday (#39?) is tomorrow. I have no idea what we’ll manage to do today. Perhaps just hang out with the cats. RIght now, Toby is sitting at attention to my left. He’s begging for another spoonful of vanilla nonfat yogurt. He’s had several plops of it so far. He apparently likes it a lot more than cottage cheese, which has been a favorite food. In any case, the day will just have to be on auto pilot.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that a rival claimant to the keys of the Hawaiian kingdom made its own run at Iolani Palace yesterday. This time it was a group centered on James Akahi, who has named himself “Akahi Nui”.

You may not recall Akahi’s “coming out” in 1998 and his proclamation of the establishment of the “Kingdom of God” and, coincidentally, his own kingdom as well. He used the occasion of his “coronation” to renew his claim of ownership of Iolani Palace (“My Palace”) and all its contents, along with a long list of other properties.

In restoring this sacred Monarchy, I now Claim My Palace and My Judicial Court, that known as Iolani Palace and the Monarchy Court, a Court of Common Law, sworn and created to uphold the Rights and Justice of and for the People. I also claim all artifacts belonging to the Kingdom of Hawai’i, including all items in possession of the Bishop Estate and all sacred Heiaus and burial sites of our ancestors. This also includes ALL of the Kings Trail on all islands and every aspect thereof.

Any and all of those persons, groups or organizations who have used or are still using the Kingdom of Hawai’i name, now let it be known that they are not the True Kingdom. They now no longer have any valid right to use that name from henceforth, as I Now Re-Claim the Name and Re-Store the Crown and Throne from those thieves who have wrongly taken and abused it without My Consent. This is the True Kingdom which now cometh, the True Kingdom of God. I and the True Kingdom have never come out before this. Now we come out and present ourselves, as it is Our Time to Arise and Claim Our Sacred Seat of Power. It is now God’s Time to Move upon the Earth.

If anyone wishes to challenge me in this Re-Clamation, you have 25 days to answer and challenge this Claim. After this time, let this matter now forever be resolved. So Be It.

And for you doubters out there, this was apparently duly registered somewhere in the Bureau of Conveyances.

Of course, for a fee, the Bureau of Conveyances will register just about any document, but we won’t let that detract from the claim.

I’m not sure which part of this latest part of the saga is most rediculous, the easily dismissed claims made by Akahi or the failure of a uniformed HPD officer on the scene to respond to an assault in progress.

I can’t help pointing to Mr. Akahi’s interesting case in which he was arrested and convicted of tresspass and escape stemming from an incident involving disputed land. His conviction was thrown out on a technicality and a second trial held. At that time, Akahi insisted on representing himself, and then pleaded “no contest” on both counts. He was then convicted and appealed, claiming that the conviction should be overturned because “he was not informed that his ‘lack of jurisdiction’ claim was futile.”

In my view, it’s all pretty insane. It’s also sad. There’s so much real work to be done to better the status of Hawaiians, and instead so much talent and energy is wasted on futile gestures like this.