Debate Intensifies over Kamehameha Schools' Admissions Policy Favoring Native Hawaiians

Tue Sep 16 2025 15:40:49 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Kamehameha Schools, a private institution in Hawaii with a significant endowment, faces a legal challenge against its admission preference for Native Hawaiians amid broader national conversations surrounding race and education.

Kamehameha Schools, located in Hawaii, is under scrutiny as a campaign to challenge its admissions policy, which gives preference to Native Hawaiians, gains traction. Led by Edward Blum, the effort aligns with a larger movement following a Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action. Proponents of the school argue for its significance in preserving Hawaiian culture and providing quality education to Native Hawaiians. The outcome of this legal battle could reshape racial considerations in educational institutions nationwide.

HONOLULU (AP) — At Kamehameha Schools, where the sun sets over the breathtaking Honolulu Harbor, 14-year-old Kapua Ong feels proud of her admission to the prestigious institution, which provides preference to Native Hawaiians. Not everyone gets accepted, so I’m just grateful for these opportunities, she reflects.

The school offers a unique role in preserving Native Hawaiian culture, but it now faces challenges. A legal campaign is underway led by Edward Blum, a prominent opponent of affirmative action, aimed at dismantling Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy. Conservative activists have been inspired by recent Supreme Court decisions that have expanded discussions around racial discrimination in educational admissions.

As Kamehameha Schools — founded through the will of a Hawaiian princess, Bernice Pauahi Bishop — upholds its mission to provide opportunities primarily for Native Hawaiian students, it possesses an endowment surpassing $15 billion, rivaling many universities. Some argue that this is necessary to compensate for historical injustices faced by Native Hawaiians. With many applicants vying for a limited number of spaces, Kamehameha Schools' admissions practices are now viewed as pivotal in the ongoing national debate regarding race and education.

With high-profile figures backing the challenge, Kamehameha Schools finds itself at the center of a contentious dialogue. Alumni and community leaders urge the institution to defend its policies as a means of addressing historic disparities and ensuring future generations of Native Hawaiians have access to quality education.

Meanwhile, parents like Kona Purdy have moved their families back to Hawaii specifically for the opportunity to enroll their children in the school, highlighting the life-changing impact such admissions policies can have. As this legal discourse unfolds, the outcomes may reverberate beyond Hawaii, influencing educational policy across the nation.