Court Decision Favors Native Hawaiians

As a Hawaiian I applaud the decision of the 9th Circuit in this case. It reverses an earlier bad decision made by a 3-judge panel of the same Circuit.
Many will decry this decision as "discrimination" against non-Hawaiians under American law. I would like to remind them that the Hawaiian people were forced to live under American law when agents of the U.S. stole the independence and sovereignty of Hawaiians when American troops landed to support the overthrow the independent Kingdom of Hawai'i. Had there not been this international crime against the Native Hawaiian (i.e., Kanaka Maoli) people there would be no issue here.
The Kamehameha Schools is the last vestige of Kanaka Maoli institutional nationhood. It owns for the benefit of Kanaka Maoli what little remains of the national patrimony of the Kanaka Maoli. Not content with stealing over 90% of the land of Hawai'i as well as its independence, foreigners seek to steal the remaining tiny portion of the lands of Hawai'i used to benefit Hawai'is native people.
We, the racially abused and robbed native people of Hawai'i are accused of racial discrimination because we wish to continue to use for our children's benefit what remains of our national heritage, that miniscule part that has not yet been stolen from us by racists pretending to be anti-discriminationists.

Racist Laws make racist people...if you keep calling yourselves "downtrodden" and playing the role of the victem then your people will forever be begging for handouts from the white man, sickening...how bout getting a dam job and working for your shjt like everyone else?

i agree that most hawaiians do need to get jobs and most are begging for handouts and sadly getting it, but the schools was here before the US and it's not like "the white man" is giving the hawaiians a handout, the school is, the school gets it's own money and does not receive any money from the government

That is true, sadly raciall discrimination that is not funded by the government is not illegal, sad comment on the state of equality in the USA.

nothing in life is equal

Hey Chad, here is some perspective.

The reason Kamehameha remains with the preference policy is because the school doesn't have enough space for all interested native-Hawaiians. Trust me, I'm one of many who didn't get in (I scored A's on all tests, however, but they said the decision was made because I didn't play sports/other school activities...I did surf and compete at the time...I guess my interviewer didn't realize surfing as the most Hawaiian sport.)

This school is made to offset the imbalance of the fact that many wealthy new comers to the islands were sending their kids to expensive/prestigious academic institutions and at the time, many Hawaiian families could not compete against them for jobs (remember, this is when many Hawaiian families were living off the land). The school preferred Hawaiians because they were the ones needing help. Remember, the common Hawaiian child at the time was about living off the land, not more modern lives. Outsiders had money because they were from places that required it, most Hawaiians did not because for the most part, did not need it to survive. This was all changing quick as many outsiders wanted land, and had the money to purchase it. They had a sort of head-start in the changing Hawai'i (research Hawaiian history to see the events that caused this change). For the most part, this school counteracted that imbalance.

Nowadays, many Hawaiian children want to go because of the immersion into Hawaiian culture. I went to a public school, there is a Hawaiian culture course, but it is nowhere near as comprehensive as Kamehameha. Your hate towards anything 'racist' stems from events that happened on the mainland, this was meant to counteract native common people from being priced out of Hawai'i by those with large amounts of money, in a socio-landscape where money just became important to common folk.

P.S. I've worked for everything I have.

Kalei wrote:

Hey Chad, here is some perspective.
The reason Kamehameha remains with the preference policy is because the school doesn't have enough space for all interested native-Hawaiians. Trust me, I'm one of many who didn't get in (I scored A's on all tests, however, but they said the decision was made because I didn't play sports/other school activities...I did surf and compete at the time...I guess my interviewer didn't realize surfing as the most Hawaiian sport.)
This school is made to offset the imbalance of the fact that many wealthy new comers to the islands were sending their kids to expensive/prestigious academic institutions and at the time, many Hawaiian families could not compete against them for jobs (remember, this is when many Hawaiian families were living off the land). The school preferred Hawaiians because they were the ones needing help. Remember, the common Hawaiian child at the time was about living off the land, not more modern lives. Outsiders had money because they were from places that required it, most Hawaiians did not because for the most part, did not need it to survive. This was all changing quick as many outsiders wanted land, and had the money to purchase it. They had a sort of head-start in the changing Hawai'i (research Hawaiian history to see the events that caused this change). For the most part, this school counteracted that imbalance.
Nowadays, many Hawaiian children want to go because of the immersion into Hawaiian culture. I went to a public school, there is a Hawaiian culture course, but it is nowhere near as comprehensive as Kamehameha. Your hate towards anything 'racist' stems from events that happened on the mainland, this was meant to counteract native common people from being priced out of Hawai'i by those with large amounts of money, in a socio-landscape where money just became important to common folk.
P.S. I've worked for everything I have.

i've taken the tests, that's how i got in, and they don't give you grades and my brother didn't get in and they didn't tell him the reason why he didn't get in, they just say they regret to inform you. you do know that the school prints the same paper for everyone right.

i also don't think that the school is counteracting any imbalance because i go to the school and i know that the ones that will succeed could succeed at public school and many of the students that go, have parents that are rich

and the school isn't that good with culture immersion only two classes are required for that kind of thing and it's Hawaiian Culture and Hawaiian History and those two classes are only one semester and majority of the students don't want to take those classes

Sounds like you guys are making excuses for discriminating against white people. How would you feel if there were an all white school were the best school on the island and you were forbidden to attend becuase you werent white? If there are only 2 courses on Hawiian culture, then the sole purpose of the school is to keep whites and blacks out. This type of thing is a reminder of how hawiians hate outsiders, dont expect others to embrace your people and your culture if you treat them as second class citizens. This school is creating hate and dividing the residents of the island into racial groups, this is a recipie for seperatisim which can lead to violence, mistrust, and a further divide between islanders and newcommers. This reminds me of the 1960's United States school policies, seperating black and white students. Looking back on this policy everyone agrees that this was wrong and sent a message of seperation to the population.

the school only has two hawaiian courses because the goal for the school is not to teach the students their hawaiian culture, it's to teach them westernized schooling, like any other school, and the school isn't dividing races because the students are of many races. the school groups hawaiians but does not seperate the hawaiian students from other races.

to any of you who beleive the school discriminates, it does, and yes not all hawaiians can get in. but to say the the school is racist is more of the same jibberish. heres why, the U.S stole an entire nation away from a noble people, using lies, greed, threats, violence, coercion, and duress. so your arguments are based on filth. you use words like hand outs to explain your position, in reality you have no position, other than disgusting qualities. so to be simple, would you enjoy someone coming to your town, stealing your car, house, land, and then have them tell you how you are racist, and unfair? any dummy can be a criminal. and its fair to say that arguing with you is like arguing with a dumb criminal.

Tim,
Your are naive. If the Uninted States had not settled here the Japanese would have completely claimed the islands. The Japanese do not suffer from white guilt. They would let us have anything. We should be grateful for what we have.

-Aloha

I'm studying sociology at SOU and it is good to read the various perspectives..what exactly is the issue? Is it native land use rights or the right of educational choice? Or? I lived on the Big Island for some months and enjoyed a complex experience. I had at one time, 3 jobs and made quite a few freinds. However, there has been only one Kanaka Maoli who has made a lasting impression on my life and who is a very dear friend. He bears no aggression or hatred for any people not matter what has occurred to him in his life or for what he has read about in history. He has shown be he believes in peace and works to create it everyday in his interactions with people and the island. Sure I know he has felt sadness and pain at what occurs to the land--the destruction of burial grounds and the thereby disrespect to Kanaka ancestors. But he has also remarked on some unhealthy behaviors of Native Hawaiians and to me, he stresses the importance of personal integrity and responsibility. Not too mention forgiveness.

I don't know what we can do to end the pain of the Hawaiian people. I do what I can by educating friends and family members about the complexity that exists in the islands. I have written a research paper about the illegal practices of many developers and the locals (newcomers and Hawaiians) struggle to preserve and protect the wildlife and sanctity of places.

I think the real question is, "What are you [we] doing to solve the (worlds)social, environmental, ethical, political etc... problems at the local level in the most loving ways possible?

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and I feel very inspired by his leadership. I think instead of blaming eachother, we could help eachother by coming up with workable solutions on the most easily applicable level.
For example, we not be smiling and welcoming wherever we are? Why not carry groceries for someone? Offer forgiveness to those ancestors who overtook the islands and become more active in protecting what is left, raising awareness of those in power--that you will not back down until they stop polluting?

these are just my thoughts.
mahalo nui loa

Wow Cory
I wish more people were like you and your friend

I own property there on the Big Island I bought it 20 years ago I hope to build on it someday

I hold the Hawaiians in high esteem and also their land

I visit there often as I have family that have been there for 40 years plus and some that were born there.
I do experience often some bad treatment by the natives but all in all I love the plave
always will and I hope to bring something to better the islands when I get there to live

My father in law has lived there for 50 years and the natives love him he has done so much to better the islands

Aloha

Chad wrote:

Sounds like you guys are making excuses for discriminating against white people. How would you feel if there were an all white school were the best school on the island and you were forbidden to attend becuase you werent white? If there are only 2 courses on Hawiian culture, then the sole purpose of the school is to keep whites and blacks out. This type of thing is a reminder of how hawiians hate outsiders, dont expect others to embrace your people and your culture if you treat them as second class citizens. This school is creating hate and dividing the residents of the island into racial groups, this is a recipie for seperatisim which can lead to violence, mistrust, and a further divide between islanders and newcommers. This reminds me of the 1960's United States school policies, seperating black and white students. Looking back on this policy everyone agrees that this was wrong and sent a message of seperation to the population.

You know what? Reparations are in order in this case - Hawaiians are in the same boat as Native Americans as it pertains to the loss of their land, language, religion and much, much more. Reparations in the form of EDUCATION you have a problem with? This doesn't fuel hate, it makes Hawaiians proud again, when they can say they did it on their own and without help. If we were talking about anything but a positive thing like a school, you might have a point. I lived on Kaua'i for many years and was embraced by my Hawaiian friends very warmly - it was the mixed Portugese and Japanese people with little if any Hawaiian blood who gave me looks and made me feel that way.

Chad wrote:

Racist Laws make racist people...if you keep calling yourselves "downtrodden" and playing the role of the victem then your people will forever be begging for handouts from the white man, sickening...how bout getting a dam job and working for your shjt like everyone else?

A get alot a jobless hoale over here too, so cut the crap!

kana wrote:

<quoted text>A get alot a jobless hoale over here too, so cut the crap!

well this hasn't got anything to do with haoles right, so leave them out of this...he was just talking about the hawaiians that are using the government

Wow, alot of misinformed comments here. Let the discussions continue, but lets get some facts straight.

1. Kamehameha Schools is not funded by any government, but the Us government is trying to Judge Kamehameha Schools. Right or wrong this is the truth. It is the "Will" of a Queen that established the school and the selection Process.

2. Kamehameha Schools is not racist, you can be of any Nationality....Yuup any nationality. Just, you must have Hawaian Blood. If you took all the Nationalities that go to school there, I would bet the percentage of Hawaiian blood would be less than the average. Read this again until you understand it, Japanese, Chinese, German, English, Filipino, ect, ect. Everyone is welcome, but prefernce is those with hawaiian blood.

3. The American Government did not cause or start the overthrow the Hawaiian Government, a Navy Comander was conned by 12 Sugar Growers to Protect American lives, but, even today, the American Government has failed to HONOR the Treaties that would have protected the Hawaiian Kingdom from being taken over. There lays the Crime.(at least my opinion)

4. More Hawaiians work and live all over the world than those who ask for Handouts, no different than anywhere else.

Got some facts, get some truth, get to the solution, the problems are going nowhere. Offer some some solutions.

Ray wrote:

Wow, alot of misinformed comments here. Let the discussions continue, but lets get some facts straight.
1. Kamehameha Schools is not funded by any government, but the Us government is trying to Judge Kamehameha Schools. Right or wrong this is the truth. It is the "Will" of a Queen that established the school and the selection Process.

I agree with what you are saying, but I just have one thing to correct and that is that it was not the will of a Queen, it was the will of a Princess.

Kamehameha Student wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree with what you are saying, but I just have one thing to correct and that is that it was not the will of a Queen, it was the will of a Princess.

I am glad that someone caught that, I really didn't anyone would.

Thomas wrote:

I am glade to see that the courts are starting to recognize native Hawaiian rights and allow Hawaiians to have their own native schools , the Hawaiians have had their rights stolen their land stolen , and so many now are forced to live either on the beaches or the streets as they cannot afford the rent , while the very rich like Donald Trump can buy up large areas of waikiki to build condos and hotels for the rich tourists ! Maybe if the Hawaiians fight hard enought one day Hawaii will be a Hawaiian nation once again , their own country !

Thomas.....You Now live on Apache land. Apaches fought the US longer than any other tribe and even after Hawaii was "overthrown". Somehow we still have brilliant people like you living on our ancestral land, using our place names, and standing up for rights of people "not in your backyard". White newcomers to Arizona were responsible for the most inhumane slaughters of women and children the world has seen in history. If you believe what you say for Hawaiians, then your conscience should compel you to move to Europe.