The recent proposed legal challenge to the Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) has reignited conversations across Hawai‘i about the balance between cultural preservation, educational equity, and legal frameworks. For generations, Kamehameha Schools has carried out the vision of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop by providing educational opportunities for Native Hawaiian children. The challenge now before the courts places legislators, educators, and advocates in a position to consider the broader implications for Hawai‘i’s education system and policy implications for our Hawaiian community and all of our Hawaiian institutions.

​

At the Legislature, such cases are not treated as distant judicial matters alone. They intersect with public policy questions about how we support Native Hawaiian communities, how private trusts and institutions are permitted to function, and what role the State should play in encouraging culturally-based education. While the admissions policy is set by Kamehameha Schools itself, any legal contest prompts lawmakers to reflect on what these challenges mean for the Hawaiian community generally.

​

The Legislature, as a forum for dialogue, becomes a venue to discuss concrete ways to respond legislatively. Advocates and lawmakers can explore policies that affirm support for Indigenous education programs and safeguard Hawaiian-focused initiatives.  In this sense, the challenge has broader symbolic and practical weight—it is about how Hawai‘i can use legislative tools to uphold the cultural and historical needs of its Indigenous people.

​

Policy implications ripple beyond the walls of Kamehameha Schools. Questions arise about whether similar challenges could be mounted against other Hawaiian-focused programs, scholarships, or institutions. At the Legislature, it is imperative that we take these opportunities to further consider measures that balance legal compliance with the State’s commitment to Native Hawaiian advancement, such as clarifying statutory protections, funding support for Indigenous programs, or establishing guidance for culturally-based admissions policies. Such discussions also touch on larger themes of sovereignty, self-determination, and the role of private trusts in advancing public good.

​​

Ultimately, this challenge underscores the need for vigilant Hawaiian advocacy at every level—within the courts, the Legislature, and the community. How we respond legislatively will send a message about the State’s commitment to preserving Native Hawaiian culture and educational equity. By articulating values, proposing legislative protections (if any are available), and ensuring that education policies reflect Hawai‘i’s unique history, we can help shape the future of all Hawaiian-focused programs for generations to come.

Share Your Manaʻo