Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Friday, September 15, 2023
VIDEO: James O'Keefe goes undercover in Lahaina
By Video @ 2:58 AM :: 3279 Views :: Maui County, First Amendment

James O'Keefe goes undercover in Lahaina, Hawaii, to reveal a shocking directive from Governor Josh Green: a prohibition on photography on public land. Local law enforcement is enforcing this outrageous order, but even members of the Hawaii National Guard have criticized these actions.

But O'Keefe Media Group (OMG) isn't just reporting; we're taking action. We are suing Governor Josh Green for this blatant infringement on our 1st Amendment rights. This isn't merely about the freedom to take photos; it's about the freedom of the press and the right to hold our leaders accountable.

  *   *   *   *   *

Maui police and sheriffs tell Journalists Governor has prohibited photography on public land.

From www.okeefemediagroup.com   Thu, Sep 14, 2023

In Lahaina, Hawaii, we released hidden camera recordings on Thursday that show Maui Police officers and Sheriffs warning journalists they will be arrested if they take video or photography alongside the miles of Lahaina bypass highway and along the perimeter of the burn zone.

Hawaii National Guard says Maui police and Sheriffs are “assholes” who are “puffing chests” and OMG files lawsuit against Hawaii Gov to allow for video recordings.

These statements are a violation of the 1st Amendment and have led to a lawsuit filed against the Governor.

“We’re not trying to hide anything,’ said the Maui Sheriff about the prohibition of photography miles away from the center of town along the Lahaina bypass. “It’s for safety.”

The camera, hidden in buttons worn by James O’Keefe and his OMG team, also captured two national guardsmen at checkpoints inside the burn zone. Speaking to the actions of the local sheriff and police, the national guardsmen said, “Nobody can stop you from taking pictures,” local law enforcement are, “puffing their chests”, and are sheriffs are “assholes.”

Sheriff Officer W. Aqua told the journalists they are “in violation” for parking on the shoulder of the bypass miles away from the center of town to do news reporting, although the word “park” does not appear in statute.

The police officers and sheriffs cited Hawaii’s revised “Emergency Management” statute 127A-29 Governor’s emergency proclamation and revised statute 127A29 which states “Emergency period infractions, violations, misdemeanors” but the statute says nothing about photography or a prohibition on journalism.

One of the Guardsmen from Oahu condemned the actions of the local police citing the Emergency proclamation and even said that he was himself a police officer from Honolulu. “I’m a police man in Honolulu and I’ve never heard of that.”

The other Guardsmen said, “Anybody can take a picture, nobody can stop you guys from taking pictures. It’s sensitive here right now, and he’s pushing and puffing his chest.”

It wasn’t just Sheriff’s that seemed to abuse the emergency proclamation. Officer Kunioka from MPD, or Maui Police Department, said that journalists would be arrested after a warning. The officer stated that “You can record whatever you want” but if you’re on the shoulder of the bypass you cannot record. He added, “I don’t know if there’s anything set up for journalists.”

Mike Yoder an attorney on location asked, “Is it normal for the governor to just unilaterally change the landscape of law in Hawaii. Yoder filed a lawsuit with OMG as plaintiff, against the Governor in Federal court, arguing the statue is unconstitutional and incompatible with the 1st Amendment.

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii