The federal government won't let Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele go home to Waimanalo for Thanksgiving, a condition of his recent release from custody.

But the leader of the self-proclaimed Nation of Hawaii got an unexpected gift from the government in time from the holiday.

The federal government this week asked to postpone Kanahele's new trial to Jan. 9 or Jan. 17, which is the 103rd anniversary of the government's overthrow of the nation of Hawaii.

"Picking the very date of the overthrow has inspired Mr. Kanahele greatly, said Hayden Aluli, Kanahele's attorney.

"What more do Hawaiians need to see that it's a political prosecution."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Les Osborne, who is prosecuting this case, said he asked to postpone the trial for personal reasons.

"If it's a good omen for anyone, it's a good omen for the U.S. government," he said, "It might be a second overthrow."

Osborne, who asked when the overthrow occurred, said the proposed date had nothing to do with symbolism.

The government has charged Kanahele with obstructing law enforcement officers and harboring federal fugitive Nathan Brown, who has evaded a 78-month sentence for tax fraud.

Both incidents allegedly occurred last year in January and March.

Kanahele's second trial was set for Jan. 3, following a mistrial earlier this month. U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor declared a mistrial after expressing concerns about potential juror violations.

Kanahele, convicted of previous felonies, faces a nine-year prison term if convicted on the offenses.

Aluli said the government has created a theater of prosecution for Kanahele and to pick a date so symbolic "is almost theater of the absurd."

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