HONOLULU (AP) — After a day of water polo practice at Kamehameha Schools, 14-year-old Kapua Ong reflects on her journey. Admired for her achievements, she's one of the fortunate Native Hawaiians accepted into the prestigious educational institution located on a hill with breathtaking views of Honolulu Harbor.
I feel proud of myself for getting in because not everyone gets accepted. I'm just grateful for having those opportunities, she explains.
Applications to Kamehameha Schools, which prioritize admissions for Native Hawaiians, often exceed available slots, presenting a competitive landscape for students. To qualify, Kapua's family began documenting her Native Hawaiian ancestry in a genealogy database when she was just a baby.
However, the school's admission preferences are now facing legal challenges. A campaign spearheaded by Students for Fair Admissions, led by Edward Blum, is seeking to contest the legality of Kamehameha's policy in the courts, driven by a broader movement against affirmative action practices following a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
In response, alumni, local community leaders, and parents are urging Kamehameha to defend its admissions policy, touting its importance to preserving Hawaiian heritage and culture. They argue that providing educational opportunities to Native Hawaiian children is essential in addressing historical disparities resulting from colonization.
Recent legal battles over similar admissions policies have surrounded institutions like Harvard and the University of North Carolina, indicating a shift in how educational policies regarding race are scrutinized nationally. Kamehameha Schools, with an endowment larger than most universities, is determined to fight for its right to prioritize Native Hawaiian students, a mission established by its founder, Bernice Pauahi Bishop, in her will in 1884.
As the debate unfolds, many in Hawaii see Kamehameha's role as vital to remediate the educational disadvantages faced by the Native Hawaiian community. For Kapua and others, gaining admission offers transformative educational experiences enriched with Hawaiian cultural values.
The school has a responsibility to maintain its mission, especially in light of historical injustices, says Andria Tupola, a Kamehameha alumna. This is about more than just admissions; it's about preserving our future generations and our cultural identity.
