For nearly 140 years, Kamehameha Schools has stood as a pillar of Native Hawaiian education—founded in 1887 by the will of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop to uplift her people through learning. But now, its core mission is under legal fire. A new federal lawsuit alleges the school’s admissions policy, which gives preference to students of Native Hawaiian ancestry, amounts to “blood-based discrimination” .
Table of Contents
- A School Born from a Princess’s Vision
- The Lawsuit: Who’s Behind It?
- What the Law Says—and What’s at Stake
- Native Hawaiian Voices Respond
- A National Reckoning on Race-Conscious Programs?
- Sources
A School Born from a Princess’s Vision
Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last direct descendant of King Kamehameha I, witnessed the rapid decline of her people due to disease, land dispossession, and cultural erasure. In her will, she bequeathed her vast estate—nearly 10% of Hawaii’s land—to create a school “for the benefit of children of Hawaiian descent.”
Today, Kamehameha Schools operates three K–12 campuses across Hawaii and serves over 6,900 students. While non-Native applicants can apply, the Kamehameha Schools admissions policy prioritizes those who can document Hawaiian ancestry. As a result, more than 98% of enrolled students are Native Hawaiian—a fact the institution proudly cites as fulfilling its founder’s intent.
The Lawsuit: Who’s Behind It?
The legal challenge comes from Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA)—the same conservative group that successfully pushed the U.S. Supreme Court to end race-based affirmative action in college admissions in 2023. This time, SFFA is targeting a private K–12 institution, arguing that Kamehameha’s policy violates the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which prohibits racial discrimination in private contracts—including school enrollment agreements .
“Nothing about training future leaders, or preserving Hawaii’s unique culture, requires Kamehameha to block its students from learning beside children of different ancestries,” the lawsuit states.
What the Law Says—and What’s at Stake
Kamehameha’s legal team is expected to argue that the school functions as a charitable trust with a specific cultural and historical mandate—not a general educational institution. They may also cite past court rulings: in 2006, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the school’s admissions policy, calling it a “benign” form of racial classification tied to remedial justice for a historically marginalized group.
However, legal experts note that the current Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority has shown increasing skepticism toward any race-conscious policies—even those designed to address historical inequities.
Native Hawaiian Voices Respond
For many Native Hawaiians, the lawsuit feels like yet another attempt to dismantle their sovereignty and erase their identity. “This isn’t about exclusion—it’s about survival,” said Dr. Noelani Goodyear-Kaʻōpua, a professor of Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. “Kamehameha is one of the few spaces where our language, values, and worldview are centered.”
Alumni describe the school as a sanctuary where students learn not just algebra and literature, but also hula, oli (chanting), and the concept of kuleana (responsibility to land and community). “It’s the only place I ever felt fully seen as a Hawaiian,” said Leilani Kekoa, a 2019 graduate.
A National Reckoning on Race-Conscious Programs?
If the courts rule against Kamehameha, the ripple effects could extend far beyond Hawaii. Tribal schools, Native American scholarship funds, and other culturally specific educational programs might face similar legal challenges. Critics warn this could mark a new front in the broader campaign to eliminate all forms of race-conscious policy—even those rooted in restitution, not preference.
Supporters of the lawsuit, however, insist it’s about equal access. “No child should be denied education because of their bloodline,” said Edward Blum, founder of SFFA.
As the case unfolds in federal court in Honolulu, one thing is clear: the fate of Kamehameha Schools admissions policy could redefine what it means to honor history in a post-affirmative action America.
