By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Windward Oahu Bureau

WAIMANALO - Having regained his freedom, Hawaiian sovereignty leader Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele yesterday said it is time for him to get to work and bring the Hawaiian community together.

Kanahele was released Monday from a section used for federal prisoners at the state's Halawa Medium Security Facility. He was serving the remaining two weeks of a four-month sentence after pleading guilty to a federal charge of interfering with a federal agent.

Kanahele said he would remain on an electronic monitoring system until June 26. During that time, he will be allowed out of his house between 5:30 a.m and 10 p.m. He said there are no restrictions on where he can go.

Kanahele, 43, is the leader of the Nation of Hawaii and was once considered the most militant of sovereignty leaders, often challenging local and federal laws. But Kanahele said he realizes he has to take a different approach to reach his goals.

"I'm never going to give up sovereignty. But I'm going to go about it in a different way," he said. I have to go through the political process. I have to work within the system."

Kanahele, a member of the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board -- an unpaid, advisory position -- said he is looking into whether he can run for higher office after being convicted of a felony. If allowed, he said, he will seek a seat on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

"I feel I have a lot to offer our people. I would represent a part of our community that hasn't been heard," he said. "There's too much in-house fighting going on."

Kanahele said it is important for Hawaiians to get involved this election year, as candidates or as voters, to participate in debates about preservation or erosion of Native Hawaiian rights.

"There are too many opportunities for change, which could benefit Hawaiians or be detrimental," he said. "In any time in the history of Hawaii, this year probably is the most important."

"There are too many opportunities for change, which could benefit Hawaiians or be detrimental," he said. "In any time in the history of Hawaii, this year probably is the most important."

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