WAILUKU, Hawaii — A University of Hawaii professor who had been one of six people arrested for protesting the construction of a new telescope atop Haleakala says he has been issued a warrant because he spoke Hawaiian in a courtroom.
WAILUKU, Hawaii — A University of Hawaii professor who had been one of six people arrested for protesting the construction of a new telescope atop Haleakala says he has been issued a warrant because he spoke Hawaiian in a courtroom.
Hawaii News Now reports that Samuel Kaleikoa Kaeo was issued an arrest warrant on Wednesday for speaking Hawaiian while in court to face charges stemming from the August 2017 protest. After being asked to identify himself, Kaeo did so in Hawaiian — prompting the judge to rule him not present.
Kaeo had requested a Hawaiian translator during his trial, but the judge denied his request.
The Maui Prosecutor’s Office denied a request for comment on Wednesday. But a motion to conduct the court proceedings in English says providing an interpreter would have caused needless delay.
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Information from: KGMB-TV, http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/
