HONOLULU (AP) – Kapua Ong, a 14-year-old freshman at Kamehameha Schools, expresses pride and gratitude for her acceptance into the prestigious institution overlooking Honolulu Harbor. The competitive private school prioritizes Native Hawaiian students in its admissions process. Kapua’s journey to enrollment included her parents documenting her Native Hawaiian ancestry in a genealogy database and her own efforts in scoring well on an admissions test, while showcasing her kung fu skills and fluency in Hawaiian language.
Kamehameha Schools has a policy that gives preference to Indigenous Hawaiians, although it also states this is “to the extent permitted by law.” This policy faces a potential legal challenge led by a group called Students for Fair Admissions, headed by Edward Blum, a prominent critic of affirmative action. The group aims to redefine racial discrimination in education, targeting scholarships and admissions policies directly tied to race, emboldened by recent Supreme Court decisions against affirmative action.
The school’s endowment, valued at over $15 billion, has empowered alumni, parents, and local leaders to rally behind its admissions policy. Andria Tupola, a Kamehameha graduate and member of the Honolulu City Council, emphasizes the importance of hiring competent legal representation to defend the policy. For many, attending Kamehameha represents a significant opportunity, addressing educational disparities in a Native Hawaiian community that often faces poverty and high incarceration rates.
Kamehameha Schools was established through the will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop in 1884, directing the creation of schools for Native Hawaiians and supporting scholarships and community initiatives. With over 5,400 students enrolled across three campuses on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island, the demand significantly outpaces available spaces, sometimes by a ratio of 17 to 1. The admissions process has an established perception among Hawaii residents, who recognize that only students with Hawaiian ancestry are likely to gain admission. This policy is viewed by many as an effort to mitigate historical injustices stemming from U.S. colonization.
Historically, there have been challenges to this admissions policy. In 2005, over 15,000 people protested a ruling that struck down the policy. Although the ruling was later upheld, Kamehameha had to settle with a non-Hawaiian student denied admission. The school has expressed confidence that its nearly 140-year-old admissions policy aligns with the law amidst ongoing scrutiny.
In response to the latest challenges, Kekoa Kealoha, a graduate, expressed surprise that Blum’s campaign is being pursued with such vigor. Blum is known for litigating cases that have led to significant Supreme Court decisions regarding affirmative action in college admissions. Professor John Tehranian indicates that Kamehameha's legal defense may focus on the political status of Native Hawaiians rather than race, referencing precedents that permit specific programs for Native Americans.
In a broader context, conservative groups are increasingly mounting campaigns against educational policies perceived as racially preferential, emphasizing a shift in focus from college admissions to K-12 institutions as well. Senator Brenton Awa, who identifies as Hawaiian Republican, characterizes the initiative against Kamehameha as racist and seeks to educate others about the school’s mission and purpose.
For many families, like that of Kona Purdy, Kamehameha represents a transformative educational opportunity. The family relocated back to Hawaii due to their daughter’s acceptance, underscoring the school's life-changing potential. Despite challenges such as housing instability leading to a temporary relocation back to Las Vegas, Purdy expresses hope for reapplying to Kamehameha, emphasizing the critical role of its admissions policy in providing opportunities to Native Hawaiian students.
