About 50 to 75 members and supporters of the sovereignty group Hawaiian Kingdom Government occupied the mauka-'ewa corner of the 'Iolani Palace grounds from early this morning but did not try to stop others from going onto the property as they did yesterday.

Group members, including leader Mahealani Kahau, declined to speak to media, saying they were inaccurately and unfairly portrayed regarding their actions yesterday.

The group said its action was not a protest or demonstration but a reoccupying of its legitimate seat of government, unidentified security officers told The Advertiser today.

The unidentified members also denied putting up any locks at any of the palace gates yesterday, insisting that while they closed gates the only locks that were up were placed by state personnel.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Land and Natural Resources disputed that claim, stating that the only state-owned lock that was on throughout the day was a permanent one at one of the mauka gates.

Today, gates to the grounds are open.

Several school tour groups were on fields trips at the palace. Tourists, including some riding Segways, visited the palace.

Group members spent much of their day sitting and chatting on the lawn. At noon, the group put out a buffet table and ate lunch.

Meanwhile, DLNR chairwoman Laura H. Thielen released this statement today regarding events that took place yesterday at the palace:

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is proud of the professional and respectful manner in which our officers, with the support of the Public Safety Department, the Attorney General's office and other state agencies, responded to the protest at 'Iolani Palace yesterday. This state team acted promptly to ensure the safety of the staff and public as well as the security of the historic buildings. We worked cooperatively with the protesters to peacefully reopen the palace grounds and to clear the area when the park closed last evening.

The protesters are welcome to peacefully assemble at the park, Thielen said in her statement. Our officers will work with the Friends of 'Iolani Palace to ensure that the area remains open to the public, that public safety is maintained and that the historic buildings and grounds are protected, she said.