The Hawaiian Kingdom Government sovereignty group vowed yesterday to continue occupying 'Iolani Palace grounds despite having its permit application rejected.

"We are not protesters," said Mahealani Kahau, who said she is the head of state for the Hawaiian Kingdom Government. "We're not hiding who we are. Nothing will stop us from doing what we are doing under Hawaiian Kingdom law."

Laura H. Thielen, state Department of Land and Natural Resources director, said the group violated permit conditions by entering a building that was off limits. To receive a permit to occupy the grounds, as the group has done since April 30, Thielen said yesterday that names, signatures and assurances will now be required from the full leadership of the group. Previous permits were issued based on an agreement with a single leader.

The state's additional requirements were put in place because on Wednesday, Kahau and others entered the Kana'ina Building, the former state archives building on the palace grounds. The building now houses the Friends of 'Iolani Palace, the nonprofit that operates the palace as a museum.

Thielen said the permit the group was operating under does not give permission to enter the buildings. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources manages the palace.

"Those buildings are fragile," she said. "The group was told they are not permitted to demonstrate inside these buildings. We cannot jeopardize the conditions of these buildings."

Kahau said the group would never attempt to enter the palace because that's sacred, but the Hawaiian Kingdom Government wants to be able to use the Kana'ina building.

The four Hawaiian royal societies on Saturday criticized the action of the Hawaiian Kingdom Government and urged the group to stop occupying the palace grounds. The societies include the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu, Hale O Na Ali'i O Hawai'i and Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors — Mamakakaua.

But Kahau said the royal societies are not recognized under the Hawaiian Kingdom Government. "They're a foreign corporate entity," Kahau said. "When they come to us as individuals, that's one thing, but not as a (royal society)." She added, "I cannot listen to them as a group."

The Hawaiian Kingdom Government is one of several sovereignty groups that does not recognize the authority of the state or the United States government. On the first day it occupied the palace grounds, it locked the gates for about eight hours, shutting down the palace tour operations and the Hawai'i Archives Building.

Group members spent weekdays, from May 1 through Friday, on the palace lawn, saying they were conducting business. The group received five-day permits on May 5 and May 12.

Thielen said: "I want assurances from the leadership of the group that they will follow the permit conditions and if they do not, then they won't receive the permit."