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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 21, 2009

All quiet on Iolani Palace grounds

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

It was rather quiet at Iolani Palace today with no signs of protest as the state commemorated the 50th anniversary of statehood.

JEFF WIDENER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

A lei hangs from the statue of Queen Liliuokalani outside the State Capitol and Iolani Palace, which saw little activity throughout the day.

JEFF WIDENER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Iolani Palace — where no Statehood Day events were scheduled for today — remained breezy and quiet through lunchtime. The most raucous happening was the chatter of birds coming from the canopy of tree leaves.

Palace maintenance worker Robert Fernandez strolled about the palace grounds at 7:23 a.m., as fewer than half a dozen local visitors made themselves comfortable in the shade. Fernandez reported the morning was typical, and uneventful.
Two men sat on a bench near the bandstand — one feeding pigeons, the other reading the morning newspaper. Not far away, a third man reclined under a tree reading a paperback copy of J.D. Robb’s detective novel, “Judgment in Death.”
Kaulana Nauahi, the morning-shift palace security guard on duty, described things as like any other morning at the royal surroundings. He said he didn’t anticipate any problems.
The state said they had several security guards on hand.
“We all know what to do, pretty much,” said Nauahi. “I’m sure law enforcement would be on high alert — DLNR and sheriffs, mainly.”