Hawaiian residents are up in arms over a new mandate from a local homeowners’ association that prohibits displaying the state flag on private properties.
Tensions escalated when the Ewa by Gentry Community Association, a neighborhood just outside Pearl Harbor, revised its rules to ban state flags, sparking discontent among the beachside community.
The association, under the leadership of President Jason Locke, oversees more than 8,000 homes and has decreed that only the American flag may be displayed on residents’ properties.
This contentious move is justified by the group as an effort to “maintain the aesthetic appeal and property value of the neighborhoods.”
The decision has not been well-received by residents who take pride in their Hawaiian heritage, including former state Representative Kaniela Ing.
Ing, who represented his constituents from 2012 to 2018, quickly turned to social media to express his disapproval, arguing that the restriction infringes upon the U.S. Constitution.
The 36-year-old politician posted a video of him standing outside the HOA’s headquarters on Wednesday holding up the flags alongside children doing the same.
‘So this homeowner’s association, Ewa by Gentry, tried to ban the flying of the Haw Hawii, the Hawaiian flag, at households. You can only fly the United States flag,’ he said.
‘First of all, that’s a violation of the U.S. Constitution. Second, we just gotta make it legal to be Hawaiian in Hawaii,’ Ing added sarcastically.
Hawaii residents, including former state Representative Kaniela Ing (pictured), shared their anger with the community after Ewa by Gentry Community Association told locals they can’t fly the state flag anymore
Instead, residents can only hang the American flag. (Pictured: The Hawaii state flag)
He then invited others to join him in protest, before stating: ‘We gotta do better. We gotta do better at every level.’
‘Federal, state, county, even the neighborhoods.’
Ing wasn’t the only one enraged by the new rule, as many spoke out about it after a resident shared an email they got warning them that they have until November 13 to remove the state flag on their property.
‘A single, removeable, American Flag flown on a holder mounted to the residence or support pillar shall not require Design Committee approval,’ the message read.
‘All other flags are prohibited. *Hawaiian flag,’ it added.
The letter left many angry, with a lot of them refusing to abide by the new rule.
‘The Hae Hawaii stood long before the U.S., and we’re not removing it or letting anyone erase our history,’ one said. ‘If someone has a problem with the Hawaiian flag, that’s on them.’
Another user wrote: ‘It’s called freedom of speech. You can fly whatever flag you want.’
The HOA is run by President Jason Locke (pictured) and oversees more than 8,000 properties
Ing stood outside of the HOA’s headquarters holding Hawaii flags in protest of the decision
‘It’s our Hawaiian National Flag by Kamehameha the Great,’ someone else wrote, referring to the King of Hawaii.
He designed the flag for the Hawaiian Kingdom, using elements of the British flag to pay homage to their close ties.
‘Fly em high or sue them. F*** the HOA. Instead, the HOA, they should be called SBOB (Sour Bunch or Batch of Bullies). Fly our hae!!!!!’
Another angry local called on others to do the complete opposite of what the HOA said.
‘Someone needs to get tons for [sic] little Hawaiian flags and stick them all over the community. Every day. Until they learn,’ they shared.
Someone else suggested the HOA could face legal repercussions over its flag request.
‘I’m sure the HOA can be sued because it violated the 1st Amendment,’ they wrote.
After receiving so much backlash over the flag rules, the HOA took to social media to tell locals they have decided to look over their decision ‘for revision to include the Hawaii State flag.’
‘The Board of Directors recognizes and deeply respects the cultural and historical significance of the Hawaii State flag,’ the organization stated on Saturday.
‘It remains our goal to build and support the community in a fair and representative fashion.’
The HOA went on to express that it’s ‘gravely concerned’ about recent threats made toward its board members following the initial announcement.
‘Staff do not create or vote on Association policy. Their role is to carry out and enforce the rules adopted by the volunteer, homeowner Board of Directors,’ the group stated.
The Daily Mail contacted EWA by Gentry Community Association and Ing for comment.
