HILO, Hawaii – A lawsuit filed by the Pele Defense Fund against the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the plan to fence and manage the Ka’u Forest Reserve had a hearing before Judge Hara in Hilo Circuit Court on Wednesday.

The Pele Defense Fund – which has gone to court over Hawaii’s resources in the past, and is best known for its opposition to geothermal development on the island – is challenging the Finding of No Significant Impact in the state’s environmental assessment that was done for the Ka’u forest management plan.

Judge Hara ended up granting a summary judgment in favor of the state, dismissing the lawsuit. Occupy Hilo filmed outside the courtroom afterwards, as lawyer James Dombroski talks with members of the Pele Defense Fund and their supporters.

Palikapu Dedman did a short interview afterwards.