State briefs for Jan. 26

Native Hawaiians on plot of land ordered to leave

LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — The Native Hawaiians who have been occupying a plot of land in Wailua for nearly a year were ordered to leave by a judge.

District Court Judge Michael Soong on Tuesday ruled in favor of development company Coco Palms Hui and ousted the group that claimed interest in the land. Soong gave the Native Hawaiians until Sunday to leave.

Co-defendants Noa Mau-Espirito and Kamu “Charles” Hepa argued in court that they have a right to be on the land through a Supreme Court ruling that said natives have a right to use land for cultural and religious purposes. But Soong said the occupation of the property does not in this case exercise native tenants’ rights.

“Those rights are the right to access to enter another person’s property to hunt, gather, exercise traditional religious and cultural practices,” Soong said.

“What the defendants are exercising in this case is much more akin to adverse possession of another person’s property.”

The Coco Palms hotel property has been shuttered since it was damaged by Hurricane Iniki in 1992. There have been several attempts by developers to restore the property, but all have been thwarted for various reasons.

China consults with US on participation in RIMPAC

BEIJING (AP) — China’s Defense Ministry said Thursday it is consulting with the U.S. over again participating in large-scale multinational military exercises being held this summer.

Spokesman Wu Qian told reporters at a monthly briefing that China had already been formally invited to take part in the Pacific Rim drills hosted by the U.S. Navy.

“We are now discussing details with the U.S. side on arrangements for China’s participation,” Wu said.

China has joined in the exercises twice before.

The U.S.-hosted naval drills known as RIMPAC are held every other year and in 2016 included 45 ships, 200 aircraft and more than 25,000 people from 26 nations.