Hawaii Congressional Delegation Backs Kamehameha Schools Lawsuit Defense

Hawaii Congressional Delegation Backs Kamehameha Schools Lawsuit Defense

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The entrance sign of the campus in Honolulu has stood as a focal point for Native Hawaiian education since the vision of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop took root. The sign was photographed in front of the campus on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. Now, that mission faces a direct challenge in federal court over a longstanding practice of prioritizing Native Hawaiian applicants.

The legal challenge questions whether the school’s preference violates federal civil rights law. In response, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono, alongside Representatives Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, drew a hard line in defense of the institution. On October 23, these members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation submitted a proposed amicus brief arguing that federal law protects the admissions preference.

The federal government’s trust responsibility to the Native Hawaiian Community is not up for debate. For decades, Congress has affirmed these legal and moral obligations through more than 150 enactments recognizing and protecting the rights of Native Hawaiians as an Indigenous people of the United States. This lawsuit is a direct attack on Kamehameha Schools and its mission to educate Native Hawaiian children in accordance with the vision of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. The Court must respect Congress’ clear intent and should dismiss this case.

Lawmakers point specifically to a 2010 federal law designed to protect these exact educational programs. That legislation allows Kamehameha Schools to offer services and educational placement to Native Hawaiians first, opening doors to others only after those community needs are met. In a joint statement from the office of Sen. Schatz, the delegation asserted that Congress possesses the authority to pass laws protecting Native Hawaiian interests.

An aerial view shows the kamehameha schools campus in honolulu sept photomengshin lin

The federal court has not yet ruled on the delegation’s arguments from the October 23 filing. Meanwhile, the broader political and legal conversation surrounding Indigenous programs continues to play out across the islands, with figures like U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda and state Sen. Brenton Awa recently debating federal lawsuits targeting Native Hawaiian programs during a Congressional District 2 forum moderated by Civil Beat.

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