Akana to challenge Lawrence lawsuit

By David Waite and Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writers

Former Office of Hawaiian Affairs chairwoman Rowena Akana said yesterday she will challenge a lawsuit filed against her by a woman who was arrested after an OHA meeting in 1999.

Johanna Lawrence, who was arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing after the OHA meeting, is suing Akana, plus a deputy sheriff and two Honolulu Police officers, claiming false arrest and free speech infringement.

The lawsuit filed in federal court yesterday by her attorney Christopher Ferrara says Lawrence signed up to testify at a public meeting of the OHA board of trustees but was bypassed by Akana. It says Lawrence, who was 71 at the time, was arrested after she questioned Akana about not being allowed to testify.

Lawrence was booked on suspicion of criminal trespassing, although the charge was reduced to simple trespassing and eventually thrown out of District Court after Akana asked Honolulu prosecutor Peter Carlisle to drop the matter.

"If it ends up in court, I look forward to it," said Akana. "I know I will be vindicated. No one heard the real story. They heard of the arrest and that she's elderly and that sort of thing. I welcome the day in court."

Akana, who later apologized to Lawrence, has maintained she did not instruct a deputy state sheriff at the meeting to arrest Lawrence.

Lawrence, a regular at OHA meetings, was booked on a petty trespassing charge after a meeting at OHA offices at 711 Kapi'olani Blvd. During the "community concerns" portion of the meeting, she complained she had been overlooked for comment, and a dispute broke out.

After failing to restore order, Akana asked that 911 be called. A deputy sheriff hired to provide security at the meeting arrested Lawrence outside the 12th-floor elevator. Akana said she did not order the arrest and that the deputy sheriff was responsible. But many Hawaiian community members said at the time that Akana should take responsibility for the arrest.