Last updated · JUNE 20, 2026
Led by Dr. Keanu Sai · Founded 1996
Academic international law framework; 1999 felony theft conviction (leader). The Hawaiian Kingdom Government is led by Dr.
The Hawaiian Kingdom Government is led by Dr. David Keanu Sai, a political scientist who has organized the entity as the acting Council of Regency of the Hawaiian Kingdom since 1996. Its work centers on framing Hawaiʻi's status as a matter of unresolved international law rather than U.S. domestic policy.
Full Independence under continuity-of-state doctrine. Argues the Hawaiian Kingdom remains a subject of international law and that all U.S. authority in Hawaiʻi since 1893 constitutes belligerent occupation governed by the laws of war.
The Hawaiian Kingdom Government is led by Dr. David Keanu Sai, a political scientist who has organized the entity as the acting Council of Regency of the Hawaiian Kingdom since 1996. Its work centers on framing Hawaiʻi's status as a matter of unresolved international law rather than U.S. domestic policy.
Full Independence under continuity-of-state doctrine. Argues the Hawaiian Kingdom remains a subject of international law and that all U.S. authority in Hawaiʻi since 1893 constitutes belligerent occupation governed by the laws of war.
FELONY CONVICTION ON RECORD — The following convictions are documented in public court records. All information sourced from court filings and published news reports.
| Year | Charge / Event | Court / Forum | Outcome / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Formed Perfect Title Company with Donald Lewis, challenging the validity of land titles in Hawaiʻi on Kingdom-law grounds and offering paid title-clearing services. | — | Formed Perfect Title Company with Donald Lewis, challenging the validity of land titles in Hawaiʻi on Kingdom-law grounds and offering paid title-clearing services. |
| 1997 | Arrested for theft, racketeering, and money laundering tied to Perfect Title operations — Honolulu Circuit Court, Crim. | Honolulu Circuit Court, Crim | Arrested for theft, racketeering, and money laundering tied to Perfect Title operations — Honolulu Circuit Court, Crim. No. 97-2160. |
| Dec 1999 | Convicted by jury of first-degree attempted theft (Honolulu Circuit Court). | Honolulu Circuit Court) | Convicted by jury of first-degree attempted theft (Honolulu Circuit Court). |
| Apr 2000 | Sentenced to 5 years probation. | — | Sentenced to 5 years probation. |
| 2009–2015 | Received approximately $70,000 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for a research report that was never produced or delivered (reported by Hawaii News Now, March 14, 2017). | — | Received approximately $70,000 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for a research report that was never produced or delivered (reported by Hawaii News Now, March 14, 2017). |
Felony record — Sai was convicted of first-degree attempted theft in connection with the Perfect Title Company land-title scheme.
Sai represented the Hawaiian Kingdom as its agent. The PCA accepted jurisdiction and convened arbitration. The case was dismissed for absence of an indispensable third party (the United States) without ruling on Hawaiian sovereignty.
PCA case fileArrested 1997 for theft, racketeering, and money laundering. Convicted by jury December 1999 of first-degree attempted theft. Sentenced April 2000 to 5 years probation.
The PCA accepted jurisdiction and convened arbitration; the case was ultimately dismissed for absence of an indispensable third party (the United States), without ruling on Hawaiian statehood.
Sai has published in international-law journals arguing the continuity of the Hawaiian state.
Sai was convicted of attempted first-degree theft in 1999 in connection with title-clearing activities for parties claiming under Kingdom law.
7/10
Moderate portfolio: documented engagement with international forums or limited treaty/recognition record. Falls short of formal state-to-state recognition.
Formed Perfect Title Company with Donald Lewis, challenging the validity of land titles in Hawaiʻi on Kingdom-law grounds and offering paid title-clearing services.
Hawaiian Kingdom Government established under the leadership of Dr. Keanu Sai.
Arrested for theft, racketeering, and money laundering tied to Perfect Title operations — Honolulu Circuit Court, Crim. No. 97-2160.
Arrested 1997 for theft, racketeering, and money laundering. Convicted by jury December 1999 of first-degree attempted theft. Sentenced April 2000 to 5 years probation.
Convicted by jury of first-degree attempted theft (Honolulu Circuit Court).
Sai represented the Hawaiian Kingdom as its agent. The PCA accepted jurisdiction and convened arbitration. The case was dismissed for absence of an indispensable third party (the United States) without ruling on Hawaiian sovereignty.
The PCA accepted jurisdiction and convened arbitration; the case was ultimately dismissed for absence of an indispensable third party (the United States), without ruling on Hawaiian statehood.
Sai was convicted of attempted first-degree theft in 1999 in connection with title-clearing activities for parties claiming under Kingdom law.
Sentenced to 5 years probation.
Received approximately $70,000 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for a research report that was never produced or delivered (reported by Hawaii News Now, March 14, 2017).
Sai has published in international-law journals arguing the continuity of the Hawaiian state.
The group asserts representation of a defined Native Hawaiian constituency, with documented members, enrollment rolls, or residents.
The group claims specific territory within the Hawaiian archipelago, though U.S. and State of Hawaiʻi jurisdiction is asserted over the same territory.
The group exercises documented governmental functions (constitutional governance, elected leadership, or administrative functions). Effectiveness is contested by U.S. courts.
The group has demonstrated diplomatic capacity through treaties, UN engagement, or correspondence with foreign nations.
Hawaiian Kingdom Government's leadership has documented felony conviction(s) on record. Felony record — Sai was convicted of first-degree attempted theft in connection with the Perfect Title Company land-title scheme. The clean hands doctrine raises a material question about moral standing in international forums, though pardons, time elapsed, and the nature of the offenses are relevant mitigating factors.
| Metric | Hawaiian Kingdom Government | Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi (top) |
|---|---|---|
| International | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Legal | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Clean record | 3/10 | 10/10 |
| Overall | 5/10 | 9/10 |
Dr. David Keanu Sai's academic framework on Hawaiian Kingdom continuity is real and has been published in peer-reviewed international-law journals. The Larsen v. Hawaiian Kingdom case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (1999–2001) confirms the PCA accepted Hawaiʻi's statehood as a live international-law question, though the case was dismissed on procedural grounds without a sovereignty ruling. However, Sai was convicted of first-degree attempted theft in 1999 in connection with the Perfect Title Company, which charged fees to challenge land-title validity. He was separately reported to have received approximately $70,000 from OHA for research never produced (Hawaii News Now, 2017).
CONCLUSION: Sai's international-law arguments are serious and grounded in real scholarship. But the documented felony conviction for theft and the OHA payment controversy create a credibility gap that cannot be ignored. The evidence shows a scholar with legitimate legal arguments who has also engaged in documented dishonest financial practices. Readers should evaluate the legal arguments on their merits while acknowledging the leadership's documented record.
PublicationHawaii News Now·DateMar 14, 2017
Chicago"OHA paid professor $70,000 for research he never produced." Hawaii News Now, Mar 14, 2017. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/34766022/oha-paid-professor-70000-for-research-he-never-produced.
External link — opens in new tab
PublicationHonolulu Star-Bulletin·DateDec 1999
Chicago"Sovereignty leader guilty in title scheme." Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Dec 1999.
Document in archive — see /documents
PublicationHonolulu Advertiser·DateApr 2000
Chicago"Perfect Title scheme defendants sentenced." Honolulu Advertiser, Apr 2000.
Document in archive — see /documents
PublicationHonolulu Civil Beat·DateCoverage
Chicago"Sai argues Hawaiian Kingdom occupation at UN." Honolulu Civil Beat, Coverage.
Document in archive — see /documents