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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, August 4, 2005

Hawaiians uniting in anger

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Staff Writer


SHOWING UNITY

Among the activities Kamehameha Schools has planned for Saturday:
  • O'ahu: Gathering at 'Iolani Palace grounds, 8 a.m. Unity march to Mauna 'Ala, the Royal Mausoleum, 10:30 a.m.
  • Maui: Rally and sign-waving at Maui Community College (lawn facing Ka'ahumanu Avenue), 4:30 p.m.
  • East Hawai'i: Prayer service fellowship, Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i Campus, Koai'a Gymnasium, 9 a.m.
  • West Hawai'i: March from Hale Halawai to 'Ahu'ena Heiau, 10:30 a.m. Ho'okupu ceremony at heiau, noon.
  • Kaua'i: Informational meeting at King Kaumuali'i Elementary School Cafeteria, 4 p.m. Rally to follow.
  • Moloka'i: Informational meeting, pule and mele at Kulana 'Oiwi Halau, 4:30 p.m.
    For more information, visit www.ksbe.edu
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    An appeals court ruling that sent a shock wave through one of Hawai'i's oldest and most influential institutions has also galvanized an often-fractured Native Hawaiian community.

    Across the islands, Hawaiians, many of whom disagree on sovereignty and other hot-button issues, poured out their frustration and prepared to come together this weekend in support of Kamehameha Schools.

    Kumu hula Manu Boyd, a Kamehameha alumnus, likened the situation to a family crisis that brings together siblings who may not have spoken in years.

    "It's family loyalty, coming together now, standing up for our ancestors," said Boyd.

    Tuesday's decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down as "unlawful race discrimination" Kamehameha Schools' century-old admissions policy giving preference to Hawaiians.

    Yesterday, angry listeners jammed the telephone lines of Hawaiian radio stations during morning drive time to express their outrage.

    The flood of calls was only one sign. In Hilo, more than 100 alumni and others rallied in support of the school to the sound of blaring horns from passing traffic. Everywhere, plans were being made for rallies and marches, including one at 'Iolani Palace on Saturday that is expected to draw thousands.

    "They're tired of being mistreated, tired of not being recognized as a people, tired of all our benefits eroding," said Toni Lee, a Kamehameha graduate and president of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. "We've had about enough. And if nothing else, maybe this is what we need as a people to band together."

    Meanwhile, the school's trustees reiterated that they firmly believe in its admissions policies and pressed on with a request for a wider hearing of the case by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

    Yesterday morning the phone lines lighted up at KCCN FM 100 and Hawaiian 105 KINE radio. "We got a ton of calls, and most of the calls were people calling it unfair," said David Daniels, program director for both stations.

    He estimated that each station got at least 50 calls.

    While some callers said they believe that the appellate decision makes sense, roughly 95 percent backed the school's admissions policy, he said.

    The marshaling of forces actually began earlier.

    On Tuesday less than six hours after the decision was made public, more than 100 supporters of the school had gathered in the courtyard of Kawaiaha'o Plaza, Kamehameha's administrative headquarters in Kaka'ako.

    Among the assembled were representatives of organizations both for and against the Akaka bill, which would grant federal recognition to Native Hawaiians. There were also groups that criticized the school when it quietly admitted a non-Hawaiian student in 2003 and even organizations that have been chronic critics of the school's policies.

    They will gather again — only in much larger numbers — on Saturday morning at 'Iolani Palace when those objecting to the court decision will rally and prepare for a march to Mauna 'Ala, the Royal Mausoleum. Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, who founded the school, is buried there.

    Among those who will be at the rally is Andre Perez, a leader in the Hui Pu umbrella organization of groups opposed to the Akaka bill.

    Perez, who did not attend Kamehameha, believes strongly that the school's admissions policy needs to be overhauled to meet the needs of Native Hawaiians students who are struggling with their grades.

    "We are hoping for change within Kamehameha Schools," Perez said. "Despite that, I think it's important to stand together. We put our differences aside and stand together for the greater good of our keiki's future."

    Boyd said the decision was only the latest in a series of defeats suffered by the Native Hawaiian community in recent years.

    "We have so many people out there who would like to see Hawaiians pretty much lose it all," said Boyd, who also serves as public information officer for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Hawaiians are beginning to become aware of this, he said. "I think people are really going to rise up."

    Davianna McGregor, a professor of ethnic studies at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, said Hawaiians will rally around Kamehameha because "it goes to our birthright as Native Hawaiians."

    The ali'i set up their trusts partly in recognition that "the common people never got their fair share" during the Great Mahele, McGregor said. The ali'i also felt that the influx of immigrants during the 1880s would mean that Hawaiians would, henceforth, need to compete for what once had been theirs exclusively, she said.

    Michael Chun, Kamehameha's president, said he sees both Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians rallying around the school.

    Non-Hawaiians, he said, recognize that the school is "an important institution that is serving a disadvantaged group of people. They recognize that when this disadvantaged group of people is helped, the community is helped as well."

    Native Hawaiian activist Keali'i Gora said this weekend's rallies are just the tip of the iceberg.

    He and others are preparing to "get more aggressive and we're going to go into Waikiki," Gora said. "We're going to hit the economic situation, we're going to hit them hard and we're going to tell them leave, tell the tourists to leave. Because we're not pleased with what's going on."