DLNR Removes Two Additional Tents on Mauna Kea

Two pop-up tents were removed Thursday on Mauna Kea in the restricted area that falls under the 120-day Emergency Management Rules.

Department of Land and Natural Resources spokesperson Dan Dennison told Big Island Now Friday that the tents were 10-by-10 and 8-by-8 in size, and that they were removed by Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers.

Mauna Kea ‘Protector’ Ku’uipo Freitas says that the officers arrived to an area across from the Mauna Kea Visitor Center, where lomi lomi practitioners visiting from Oahu to participate in a Big Island conference and presentations went up the mountain to offer support and service to the ‘protectors.’

Freitas said the pop up tents, which belonged to two different people, were lent to the practitioners for the session.

According to Freitas, upon arrival, DOCARE officers asked the individuals on the mountain who the tent belonged to.

“They told us that whoever owns it [the tents] would receive a citation, but if no one claims it, then they would remove it,” Freitas said.

Fretias also said that one man on the mountain, who was not identified, offered to take the citation, but that DOCARE officers were unable to cite him because he lacked a social security number.

“Somebody did say that they would take the citations but he’s a member of the LHG [Lawful Hawaiian Government],” Frietas said. “He doesn’t have a social security, so the officer couldn’t give him a citation because he said ‘it’s a whole ‘nother ballgame.’ He basically didn’t know what to do, so they confiscated. They took the pop up tents.”

Dennison said that the officers inquired of people in the area as to ownership of the tents, however, “no one claimed ownership and they were removed as abandoned property.”

On Monday, DOCARE officers removed a large tent that reportedly belonged to LHG. It was taken down after officials gave a letter of notice to have the tent removed or they would confiscate it. Mauna Kea ‘protectors’ had removed their belongings from the tent and told Big Island Now that the removal of the tent was expected.

Video credit: Ku’uipo Freitas.