Residents protest Love Has Won
Sabrina Bodon / The Garden Island
Protesters lit three fires on the beach in front of a property being rented by new arrivals.
Sabrina Bodon / The Garden Island
A handmade sign sits outside the rental property currently occupied by a group of new arrivals.
Sabrina Bodon / The Garden Island
Jaana Makipaa protests the arrival of a new group on Kaua‘i she belives prays on vunerable victims.
Sabrina Bodon / The Garden Island
A group of about 60 protesters pule before protesting the arrival of a new group on Kaua‘i.
WAINIHA — North Shore residents came out in force Friday afternoon, surrounding the home of a group of new arrivals staying at a rental house off Kuhio Highway.
WAINIHA — North Shore residents came out in force Friday afternoon, surrounding the home of a group of new arrivals staying at a rental house off Kuhio Highway.
The group, Love Has Won, is a religious nonprofit currently based out of Crestone, Colorado making the move to Kaua‘i. Its leader, who goes by “Mother God,” has urged her followers to join her in Hawai‘i for a “portal to Lemuria,” of which she believes to have been the queen of in a past life.
Protesters arrived at the beachfront property around 4 p.m., gathering on the beach for a pule. With about 60 people locking hands, Lahela Correa led a prayer.
“We started with the pule because we wanted everybody to be calm, peaceful,” Correa said. “Maybe we can teach them aloha.”
For over two hours, protesters surrounded the house on all four sides, their numbers growing as residents came to check out the commotion.
Around 4:45 p.m., the first of three bonfires were lit using driftwood in front of the residence. Protesters dragged wheel barrels full of driftwood and grabbed cardboard from nearby houses to add to the small fires.
At one point during the protest, one of the group’s members, Ricky Martinez, stood on the balcony of the house dancing.
Kaua‘i Police Department officers arrived around 5:30 p.m., asking protesters to not block traffic or stand on the property. The three officers also reminded the masked protesters to stand six feet apart.
Protesters questioned officers, asking what they were doing to monitor the group.
“We cannot do anything at this time,” KPD officer Derrick Kelley told the crowd. “If there is a crime committed, it will be investigated.”
Earlier this week, KPD thanked the community for its vigilance, but there was no probable cause for breaking quarantines or other violations.
“At this time, we do not have any evidence showing that they are doing anything more than practicing their own religious beliefs,” a KPD spokesperson said this week.
Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters expunged the fires shortly before 6 p.m.
Officers told protesters to reach out to county officials.
Love Has Won hosts daily livestreams that residents have found offensive. Recently, its leader, Amy Carlson, announced she is a reincarnation of the Hawaiian deity Pele.
When officers asked who started the fire, protesters called out “Pele!”
Jaana Makipaa showed up early wielding a printed out sign that read “Cult not welcome here.”
She learned about the group on Facebook and has begun watching its livestreams. Makipaa said the group targets sad and vulnerable people.
Mahina Laughlin has been monitoring the group for about a week using social media, too.
“I am blown away by the ignorance,” Laughlin said. “They’re predators. They’re not here to be part of the community.”
Some residents said this will not be the last protest.
“We want them to feel uncomfortable,” Louise Sausen said. “Just our presence can do that.”
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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
So, Mark hitches a ride round trip and says he is returning tuesday too broad, approximate return 2-4-6+ hours? Then, Mark appears to blow off his ride and safe return back to Wailuanuiahoano home, without a reason or excuse. Made the media, i took the bait!
Apparently unmindful that THIS friend is a hero, as well potentially saving a life Bff friend! mAlalo Ke Akua and the combinations that succeded. ON the Next adventure be more hour specific and unless a viable EMS-type excuse Occurs, Honor the plan, especially if Solo. Also consider known “cult” in the wainiha hood! Definitely not taylor camp types, just another glaring attempt to place themselves where they aRe obviously UNwelcome, hui of transplants with probable nefarious satanic religion #savethekeikiokaAina. Kaua’ history alongside media mafia FB zee, feds, Judges, P.A. Attorney General Hawaii, govnor, mayors to lowest Moku council, department directos retroactive judges, ESQ, bailiff, etc…many ladder climber, game player corporate collusion-governing AGenda!!! My opinion 90-Die REcast, and ABsolutely GAME OVER AFFECT!
What?…LOL…
Word.
Strong work folks! Keep it up! They need to open a portal back to Colorado and go back.
Your statement shows you have lost every ounce of aloha you have in your heart… This is a free country they haven’t hurt anyone -to practice their own beliefs is not a crime. The amount of racism on the North Shore is incredible!!!
In fairness, take some time to research these people. They’re abusive and vile. I have a close friend trapped inside the cult. They’ve turned that person from one of the most loving and caring human beings I know to someone who is just cruel and abusive themselves. It’s sad. Practising your own beliefs is completely fine – everyone should be able to do that. But the point of a cult is that you’re brainwashing vulnerable people into following YOUR beliefs or, as it seems in this case, abusing your followers for your own gain.
E.M. Make no mistake This group os dangerous.
And if Hitler came to Kauai, you would also be open to him hanging out on the beach drinking margaritas? This vile female leader abused a cat on video for everyone to see. There is a special hell for anyone abusing animals reserved. I hope she meets the satan that spawned her soon and here you are going on about aloha! what nonesense.
They are not welcome in Colorado either.
Right on, let us continue protesting until they leave. Cults are abusive systems that leave trauma and death in their wake. We do not need the Manson family 2.0 here on our shores masquerading as some kind of light beings, manipulating and abusing vulnerable members of our community. They are delusional – victims of the collective delusion that this woman they call their leader is God. Brainwashed into doing whatever she tells them to do. Do some research on cults with this type of belief system and you will find they often lead to tragedy- Heaven’s Gate (mass suicide), The Branch Davidians(mass suicide), The Manson Family (homicide), Children of God (abuse, trauma), the Peoples Temple(Jonestown, mass suicide, homicide). The alarm bells are ringing for the right reasons!
How dare they disrupt our Wainiha meth labs. LET KAUAI MAKE DRUGS IN PEACE FROM CULTS.
How many of these protesters voted cult member Tulsi Gabbard into Congress?
Surrounding a house, lighting fires and and trying to order people to GTFOH is alarming.
COVID causes mass hysteria, which has always been a problem on Kauai. Now worse?
“a printed out sign that read “Cult not welcome here.””
Is that what “GTFOH” means?? Is that font available in Powerpoint?? (Yes, I saw pictures of both signs but the comment almost wrote itself. It was that or, “Is GTFOH an acronym for Greetings To Fellow Opakapaka Hui”?)
““We want them to feel uncomfortable,”.
Sounds like targeted harassment, not a peaceful political protest. Makes ME feel uncomfortable. KPD should take note.
“They’re not here to be part of the community.””
No better way to “make” someone be part of your community than pitchforks and bonfires. I admit I don’t know the whole situation, but it sounds more like you just don’t like this “cult” being so close to your “cult”.
If acting unhinged, or being detached from reality, is an automatic disqualifier for living on the north shore…somebody needs to clean house.
It’s the old “My God’s better than your God” routine played out once again. Does “Mother God” actually have any “divine” qualifications, such as virgin birth, performs miracles, walks on water, breathes fire, etc. or is she just a run of the mill wantabe with a group of gullible followers. Unless they prove to be harmful to the community, why not show them a little aloha and see what happens.
You’re right, this is harassment, and while I don’t agree with their beliefs, who are we to say it’s wrong if it hasn’t broken any laws or hurt anyone on Kauai? It’s the witch trials all over again. I’m local and these “protests” are just as crazy as the so called “cult” is.
They have a history from Crestone that is well known. They have dosed people and abandoned them, people have “gone missing”, and worse. check them out. https://gurumag.com/crestone-cult-love-has-won-leaves-man-to-die-in-desert/ and be forewarned.
I love Kauai, have not visited you guys for years. Let’s get covid out of the way so I can come back. I live in Crestone! A small town out in the middle of nowhere in southern CO. Beautiful, dramatic mountain peaks, but harsh winters, a long drive to civilization, and terrible mosquitoes in the summer.
I haven’t had any direct experience with this group but the public sentiment here is very strongly against the group.
Have you ever noticed that people claiming to have had a previous life never were wagon drivers or bakers…alway kings queens and princesses
she is very dangerous
I live in Crestone. Most of the time they have been here, very little happened, good or bad. I was completely unaware that they were here until people started attacking them. Is “God” dangerous? No evidence, so far. As to vulnerable people, YOU should already be forming healthy relationships with them and they should not have to go to charlatans for salvation.
Interesting that somehow, certain people can get into Kauai with no trouble.
Claiming to embody Mother Pele is an insult to their hosts.
And others can ramble about, only to get a “citation” for breaking quarantine.
She went from an alcoholic Mc Donald’s Manager to Pele?!?! Amazing 🙄
If they have broken no law they have a right to free association like everyone else. We do not need thought police on this island.
Please help us defend our island. Be for Kauai… stand for us. Stand by us! Please add link info for our community leaders so we can access the proper channels to deal with this crime on island (cult).
Nina you sound like a fascist and sorry but Kauai does not belong to you. Last time we still have freedom here to practice religious beliefs, live where we want, etc.
WELCOME TO Wainiha.
Here is the best advice I can give to anybody that moves to Wainiha and has troubles like you guys.Locals don’t want you guys around you should make real nice real fast.If that doesn’t work make it easy on everyone and find a place more excepting of your ways it’s best not to upset to many folks when times are hard.
Good luck and God bless everyone on kauai
Exactly Hina. While I was deeply shocked and offended by the videos I’ve seen by LHW the reactions to them by the locals seem to be the exact opposite of Aloha. If they were secure in the Aloha spirit they would hang loose and try to be a positive influence on the group.
Once again the north shore locals are actually the problem and not those darn mainlanders. Why don’t they protest at Christian churches who also prey gullible weak people?
Congratulations. Your “peaceful protest” ended in the destruction of the home of a local and my family’s vehicle. For over 6 hours, these people terrorized a paralyzed woman riddled with cancer and caused enough damage to warrant a criminal investigation, all in the name of Pele. We are not a cult. We are not a religion. We are simply love. Your actions are based on lies – and you never even asked for our story. We offered kindness to the trolls that bombarded our live streams, and have no intention of taking anything from anyone. We are here in the name of love for all of humanity. You are wrong on every level imaginable, and have chosen to believe the lies instead of even asking for the truth. All that chose to embody evil last night will have to answer to God. Just because you believe She isn’t here on this island, doesn’t make it any less true. And in the wake of all this destruction, we send you all nothing but love. Thank you to the Kauai Police Department, who did their best to control the hatred that was displayed. Love has already won.
If you are LOVE then why do we keep seeing pics of your “Mother God” drunken or high and flipping people off who don’t agree with you? That is NOT love sorry…Choking a poor inocent cat is NOT love sorry…How you are confusing LOVE with HATE and DISRESPECT is beyond my comprehension…Your LOVE has not won anything because it is NOT love…Whatever it is it is NOT love… You are not fooling anyone here…
You are live streaming your side of the story on every possible social media platform and website: delusional rantings.
The truth is that your supposed mother goddess is an abusive drug addict taking advantage of your weak enabling minds to siphon your earthly belongings. Members of your cult have gone missing.
Where is Alex Whitten?
Why did you flee Crestone, CO?
The owner of the home you are occupying wants you to leave. The island community does not want you here.
Pack up and get going on your journey to Lemuria because its not here. Next plane ascends from Lihue airport in a couple hours.
A Hui Hou
The attitude and the behavior of these protesters is wrong in so many ways. I thought in 2020 more than ever Kaua’i and the rest of world were embracing not just the meaning but more importantly the practice of TOLERANCE. It is NOT tolerance to accept only people whose ideas, ideology, or lifestyle you agree with. Religious liberty in America is firmly rooted in our Constitution, and as long as we maintain the freedom to practice or associate with religious establishments at our own choosing, and are not forced into any particular belief, then why should there be a fear of any “church” or religious group that has not been proven to be a threat to anyone inside their group, and let alone a threat to anyone that remains outside their group. There is a church in Koloa, and probably elsewhere on Kaua’i that has a sign out front proclaiming “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here!” That represents TOLERANCE.
I have a very strong, and conservative Christian faith and I would not choose to fellowship at that Koloa church, or Love Has Won, but you see, that is my Constitutional choice to make! In my opinion these protesters are more dangerous than the group they are rallying against.
Well put Beth. That group obviously exposed some deep ‘shadow’ stuff from the locals. Who’s to say Amy Carlson wasn’t unconsciously seeking genuine healing on Kauai? Maybe the reason she was so damaged was because at some time in her life she was attacked by some Texans for being vocal about some weird beliefs. Kauai is known as the Island of Broken Toys. People with serious problems are drawn there by the idea that the Aloha Spirit will heal them.
Think this cult isn’t dangerous? Read this article about them:
https://gurumag.com/crestone-cult-love-has-won-leaves-man-to-die-in-desert/
There are parents, relatives, friends wondering if their loved ones are still alive because of involvement with this abusive cult! This is not about love- it is about manipulation and control. What is their endgame? Suicide? Murder? GTFO- we will know love has won when this cult disbands and leaves the island.
The woman that wrote that article is on the run from the law on the mainland, being sued for slander as she attacks only spiritual leaders. She would do the same to your leaders in a second. She’s a sociopath. If you want to know the truth, feel free to talk to any of us that are actually in the organization. No one has bothered to do that, especially not the writer of this article. Never in my life have I experienced so much hatred from people who have never met me. We have done nothing wrong. Every single thing you’ve found have a logical explanation. Instead of judging us without giving us a chance, You are perpetuating the violence against woman with major paralysis and riddle with cancer. They didn’t tell you that in this article did they? Ask questions. Seek the truth.
If people are going to spotlight crazy cults of offense, abuse and fakery their are many Kauai churches to protest. Here is a rank of notable religions: https://youtu.be/dFN9hIpiK3g
What ever happened to religious freedom, the right to worship as you choose??
These people come to the island insulting the locals heritage their traditions passed down many many many generations. They come to our aina claiming to be gods.what culture wouldn’t be insulted and protective,and angry.they need to go back where they came from and preach there.Hawaii has been invaded to many times.
maybe you can share your manao with me JQ about all the people practicing their ancient Hawaiian heritage and religion, Which you state has been Passed down for generations.
These new hippie cpeople have their own beliefs system… Get over it -it doesn’t threaten anybody here or any ancient polytheistic belief… (These protesters need to go to work. ) and use their energy for something positive! …..As for the islands being taken over so many times don’t forget when the Hawaiian’s arrived here there was a smaller less aggressive group of people living here that the Hawaiians dominated and )most likely ate ) – And or used for their human sacrifices.
I lived in Wainiha nearly 40 years ago and I’ll tell you what there is so much anger and hate in that area it’s incredible… Major demons floating in that awapuaa- you can have it!!!
Ahupua’a** you would think maybe after 40yrs of living in wainiha surrounded by Hawaiians and locals you may have learned the correct terminology.
When sixty people gather to burn fires on the lawn of a group of people they don’t like, it smacks of both intolerance and vigilantism. I don’t know anything about this “Love” group; but the police have already said they’d make arrests if crimes are committed. Groups organizing to set fires on lawns make me think of burning crosses and effigies. That’s not an old road anyone should be going down.
Instructive video of the Mother Goddess in all her glory:
https://www.reddit.com/r/tooktoomuch/comments/hxf4wa/this_is_the_leader_of_the_colorado_cult_love_has/
Your flight to Lemuria is departing today.
Here is a link to a piece by Be Scofield to better understand why this particular Cult is dangerous:
https://gurumag.com/crestone-cult-love-has-won-leaves-man-to-die-in-desert/
RE: Bobby Leseman –
“Anyone who tries to f**k with us, we’ll kill you. We will f**king kill you because there’s no time left. And we’ve seen our mom suffer so much.” — Love Has Won Livestream
You call that “Love”? That’s NOT Love, it’s pure EVIL. Wake up sunshine > you are brainwashed! Go home to your REAL Mom, REAL family, REAL people!
And, how dare Amy declare she’s Pele. That’s so disrespectful to Hawaiians, their culture, their history. She has absolutely NO clue what aloha is!
Your ‘mama’ also (by her own admission) went to the hotel on Aug. 19th to greet 3 new arrivals (Timmy, Ricky & Stacy) in quarantine. She was upset that KPD chased her off, stating > “they can’t just make up rules like that.” And referred to KPD ‘laughingly’ as “horrible beings to do that”. This is our Governors proclamation, it’s called QUARANTINE for a reason. Again TOTALLY disrespectful to our Island and residents. We’ve ALL sacrificed so much with this pandemic (jobs lost, businesses shutting down, schools closed, etc.), yet you people show up and think you’re exempt? Better than the rest of us? That you don’t need to adhere? Pitiful.
I hope the owners are truly ashamed of themselves renting their home to your CULT, yes I said CULT. Let’s be real. Anyone who worships a washed up drunk from the fast food biz, that believes she’s Trumps daughter, Pele, Mother God, and whatever else she claims to be > needs help. Get some before you become another Alex Whitten*
*To anyone not familiar: “On May 23rd, 2020 a man named Alex Whitten was found naked and dehydrated with cactus needles in his feet wandering through the desert north of Crestone. He appeared to be hallucinating. Three days earlier he had abandoned his wife and two children, flying to be with “Mother God” Amy Carlson. How he ended up almost dying in the elements is still somewhat of a mystery. His wife Ariane told me it took just six weeks of Whitten watching Love Has Won videos for him to become brainwashed.”
There’s valid concerns, and more than ample reasons why residents want your CULT off this peaceful Island. The sooner the better > for everyone sake, and especially KPD who already have enough to deal with during this pandemic!
How many of these protesters are Kanaka Maoli? These people are no better than the supposed cult they are attempting to ward off. It is these people who are always attempting to interpret the meaning of Aloha.
Always attempting to make Hawai’i their paradise. Their only concept of Aloha is a bumper sticker.
You people are sick stop it pleaae, do you know she is very sick lately, is this what you do? Is this how you guys spread love?
Just wow, humanity at its lowest point, insane.
All Mother Earth (who’s also here in the physical) is doing is showing and being unconditional LOVE. These minion protestors don’t have a clue what’s going on or know what they’re doing. May look like protesting it’s “peaceful” in the photos, yet it’s not. Yelling a bunch of slander and throwing rocks is not ok. If it happened to them this would be in new articles everywhere.
They haven’t had unconditional love shown to them before. They are wounded and need help to get through whatever they haven’t worked on within themselves. They will be in shock once they realize who they were against and who they stood up for.
I would like to help. I am ex military and studied criminal justice in college. I think the only thing we can legally do is a (Joseph Pistone Situation. I am willing and Able to get this done. This is the only way we can really know there intentions and if they pose a danger to our Aina and keiki.
Lol, sure. I’m sure “the powers that be” will recruit your services through this Garden Island News page.
My concern is that the followers of that insanity will begin to soak up all the very limited resources like welfare, healthcare and housing. Not to mention showing at food banks with their hands out as well as other programs that are out there to help. It’s cult leaders and followers like them that make a living off of scamming the system and for God’s sake, we are in the middle of a pandemic with many out of work who need those resources during this time. Kaua’i cannot handle the added weight. My suggestion is that all of go back to the mainland where the freebie trains are more abundant. Worship who you want, but Kaua’i can’t afford your lazy, brainwashed backsides! No fo’get for go home. Mahalo.
Jaime said:
“You people are sick stop it pleaae, do you know she is very sick lately”
Yes Jaime, it’s obvious from the videos that she is sick and needs a psych evaluation, along with every one of you that worship Amy and her BS. All of you have a REAL mother, family, or friends somewhere other than under Amy’s spell, who are worried about you. IF her heart was genuine, and full of this ‘love’ she preaches, then she wouldn’t be hurting thousands of families would she? Nope. Sorry, that’s NOT “Love” for anyone but herself. And speaking of egos > she seems to have a lot to say about Kauai residents and our ego’s, when she should be getting a grip on hers. Without worshipers like you propping her up emotionally, and padding her wallet financially, she’d be just another unemployed alcoholic that would not be in a Kaua’i beachfront home compliments of her followers. Wake up!!!
S said: “All Mother Earth (who’s also here in the physical) is doing is showing and being unconditional LOVE.”
Let me explain something to you S –
She is NOT Mother Earth. I reiterate, she is NOT Mother Earth.
Nor is she showing unconditional love. She’s manipulating all of you for everything she can extract financially, and emotionally. Do yourself a favor – take your life back, and get some reality in it.
as a kamania who has lived in crestone for many years i commend the intelligence and spirit of the Love Has Won protestors on Kaui…this group has done nothing helpful or positive in our community of crestone…don’t let them get comfortable