Six people who allegedly took over 'Iolani Palace last week were released from the Honolulu Police Department cellblock last night on charges of second-degree burglary and are scheduled to appear in District Court Sept. 12.

'Iolani Palace, meanwhile, will remain closed indefinitely while palace curators assess the damage from the brief occupation by an activist group led by a Maui couple calling themselves the king and queen of the Kingdom of Hawai'i.

About a dozen of the group's supporters bowed or got down on their knees last night and kissed the hands of Akahi Wahine, 53, of Ha'iku, Maui, as she was released from police custody. She and her husband, Akahi Nui, 67, left in a van and said they will ride the Hawaii Superferry back to Maui today.

Akahi Nui, a retired heavy-equipment operator, used to be known as James Akahi and his wife was Grace "Mokihana" Gushiken until they had their names legally changed in 1992, Akahi Nui said.

They were among 25 people who were arrested Friday after members of the Kingdom of Hawai'i allegedly locked gates around the palace, broke into the nearby barracks building and raised a flag bearing the Akahi Nui family crest on the barracks flagpole.

Akahi Wahine told reporters last night: "I'll do whatever needs to be done for the Hawai'i Kingdom. It's time that kanaka maoli should be respected. It's time for a change. Our people need to be respected. The wrong's got to be righted, (Gov.) Linda Lingle."

At the time of the takeover on Statehood Day, a group of eight palace employees locked themselves in the palace and a nearby administrative building. A palace employee alleged that she was shoved and injured by three people as a Honolulu police officer stood by and did not intervene.

Akahi Nui was among nine people arrested for second-degree burglary but no charges were filed against him. Police said he was released for health reasons.

"I wanna go to court," Nui said, while waiting for his wife last night. "Why didn't they hold me? I'd like to know that, too. I don't know."

Nui said he has documents, which include a lien on the palace and a deed, that he wants to present in court.

One of the others who was arrested Friday was Donald A. Love-Boltz, whom Nui said is a 73-year-old, retired provost marshal from Texas.

Love-Boltz, who was charged with second-degree assault, was turned over to state officials and taken to the Halawa Correctional Facility for processing. Bail was set at $5,000.

Love-Boltz later complained of not feeling well and was taken by state officials to The Queen's Medical Center.

"The reason I requested protection from Marshal Love is because rogue agents of the state of Hawai'i seek to harm me and my people," Nui said. "Marshal Love responded by fulfilling his obligations of state and upholding his oath to protect his constitution and preserve the first mandate that treaties are supreme law of the land."

An eighth suspect arrested for investigation of second-degree burglary was at large last night. He suffered self-inflicted injuries while allegedly trying to break into the palace armory and suffered a separated collarbone while he was handcuffed, police said.

State authorities had taken the man to Queen's, where he reportedly escaped.

Charged with second-degree burglary are: Vanessa Fimbres, 36, of Ha'iku; Tanya K. Kaahanui, 40, and Terry Nakoa Kaahanui, 52, both of Wailuku; and Waynette Nunes, 26, and Wayne Nunes, 53, both of Wailuku. Each posted $5,000 bail.

Sixteen others were charged with criminal trespass and were released after posting $50 bail.

All those charged with second-degree burglary and criminal trespass have initial appearances scheduled for Sept. 12 in District Court. Pending his medical condition, Love-Boltz's initial appearance will be today.

Earlier in the day, enforcement agents from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources patrolled the 10-acre palace site to ensure that the palace and its grounds remained secure.

DLNR officials will determine when the palace can reopen, said Ruth Limtiaco, president of the Limtiaco Co., which represents the Friends of the 'Iolani Palace.

"There's nothing new to add," DLNR spokeswoman Deborah Ward said yesterday. "We're still continuing our investigation. There is no further information at this time."

Nui has a 25-foot-long genealogy scroll that proves his descent from King Kamehameha I, said Patrick McCormick of Las Vegas, who said he is special counsel to Akahi Nui. McCormick is not a practicing attorney in Hawai'i, he said.

Nui was crowned king on Feb. 23, 1998, in a ceremony on the palace grounds, McCormick said.

CHIEF REVIEWING CASE

Friday's incident began at 4:30 p.m. on Statehood Day, an observance of Hawai'i becoming the 50th state on Aug. 21, 1959.

"They wore booties when they entered the palace," McCormick said yesterday. "When the law enforcement entered, they were in their boots. They knew the floor was delicate. I was there as an observer until I was escorted off the grounds."

One palace employee allegedly was shoved by three men as she attempted to allow someone onto the palace grounds. After reports surfaced that a Honolulu police sergeant witnessed the incident but did nothing, Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa ordered an internal review.

When the palace employees called 911, they said, they were told by police that the palace was not within their jurisdiction.

Lingle has said if the allegations are true, failure to respond would be a serious breach of the oath taken by Honolulu police.

DLNR officials and the attorney general's office have said they intend to prosecute those arrested to the fullest extent of the law.

The palace, built in 1882 when Hawai'i was a constitutional monarchy, is symbolic for a variety of political protest groups that insist Hawai'i should secede from the United States and become a kingdom again.