Baldwin senior wins dress-code fight

By Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Education Writer

A Baldwin High School senior can wear pants to her graduation ceremony, ending a dress-verses-slacks controversy that at one point appeared to be headed toward a gender discrimination lawsuit.

Donna Whitford, the complex area superintendent who oversees Baldwin High, yesterday overruled Principal Stephen Yamada and the school's graduation committee, directing by letter that Ivy Ka'anana should be allowed to wear slacks at the May 31 ceremony.

The American Civil Liberties Union had offered to file a lawsuit on behalf of the senior, who wanted to wear a nice pair of slacks under her cap and gown instead of following the graduation dress code requiring dresses for girls.

On April 29, the attorney general's office advised that the dress code did not appear to have any rational basis and would be difficult to defend at trial.

But Ka'anana's mother, Helen Rosaga, said school officials as late as yesterday told Ka'anana that she would have to wear a skirt, dress or a pareau over shorts to participate in the commencement ceremonies.

Ka'anana has worn only men's clothes for years, and Rosaga said she felt uncomfortable asking her daughter to change who she is for the ceremony.

"The clothes are not what gave my daughter the education," Rosaga said. "It's sad how things are in society today. I'm just giving my daughter my love and support and hope that she can be able to walk at graduation as herself."

ACLU officials said the opinion from the attorney general's office and the decision by Department of Education officials should set a legal precedent for the state.

"It's really a shame the agony that the school put this child through," said Brent White, legal director of the ACLU of Hawai'i. "Ivy had a lot of courage."

Reach Jennifer Hiller at jhiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.