Virginia Conservative Group Attacks Native Hawaiian School Over Admissions
HONOLULU, Hawaii — A Virginia-based conservative organization is facing backlash after launching an attack on Kamehameha Schools, a private institution that prioritizes Native Hawaiian students in its admissions process.
Conservative Group Expands Its Targets
The nonprofit in question, Students for Fair Admissions, is best known for its lawsuits against elite schools like Harvard and the University of North Carolina, where it opposed race-conscious admissions. Now, the group has shifted its focus to Hawaii, arguing that funding for Native Hawaiian students is “discriminatory” against non-natives.
The group has even created a website, KamehamehaNotFair.org, to campaign against the school’s policies.
Defending Kamehameha’s Legacy
Critics of the lawsuit point out that Kamehameha Schools operates as a private charitable trust, not as a federally funded institution. TikToker Lily (@hiililylani) explained in a viral post that the school was specifically founded to serve Hawaiian children who have historically faced systemic disadvantages in education.
“Kamehameha is a private trust for Hawaiians, not federally funded,” Lily said, adding that dismantling the institution would be an attack on Native Hawaiian identity and history.
Historical and Cultural Significance
Native Hawaiian advocates argue that protecting Kamehameha’s admissions policies is essential because of the long history of colonization, land theft, and cultural erasure in Hawaii.
Lily noted that Native Hawaiian students consistently rank at the bottom of educational outcomes compared to their peers. Kamehameha Schools helps level the playing field by ensuring access to high-quality education for children in their ancestral homeland.
Voices of Outrage
The conservative push has sparked anger across social media and within the Hawaiian community.
One commenter stated: “If this was a financially affluent, predominantly white private or charter school they’d have NO ISSUE with it. They HATE IT when POC have any kind of advantage over white people.”
Another remarked: “Hasn’t the U.S. done enough to Hawaii? Leave them alone. I’m so sick of this colonizing as country. Give indigenous people their land back and leave them alone, goodness.”*
Broader Implications
The controversy highlights a larger debate about affirmative action, indigenous rights, and educational equity. Supporters of Kamehameha argue that the school represents one of the few institutions designed specifically to preserve Native Hawaiian identity and offer tangible support for future generations.
Lily put it bluntly: “It’s pretty discriminatory to demand the one major institution created specifically for Native Hawaiians be dismantled. In a place where we are already the minority in our homeland.”
Should Native Hawaiian schools like Kamehameha remain protected as cultural trusts, or should outside groups have a say in admissions policies? Share your perspective at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
