HONOLULU (AP) — A group of Native Hawaiians on Wednesday locked the gates of Iolani Palace, the former home of Hawaiian royalty, and took over the grounds.

The group, Hawaiian Kingdom Government, said it would occupy the palace grounds indefinitely and start carrying out the business of what it considers the legitimate government of the Hawaiian Islands.

State deputy sheriffs were not allowing anyone else to enter the palace grounds as unarmed security guards from the group blocked all gates to the palace, a major tourist attraction in downtown Honolulu.

Workers inside the palace itself had locked the doors and were not letting the group inside.

The group said it learned from Police Chief Boisse Correa, who is a Native Hawaiian, that arrest warrants were being prepared with the expectation they would be served on the 60 or so protesters.

Protest leaders said they were prepared to be arrested and would go peacefully.

The group's leader, Mahealani Kahau, said the group did not recognize Hawaii as an American state.

The group is one of several Hawaiian sovereignty organizations in the islands, which became the 50th state in 1959.