The rally and march were in protest of a federal appeals court ruling earlier this week that Kamehameha Schools' practice of giving admissions preference to students of Hawaiian blood violates federal civil rights laws, first passed in 1866, barring private institutions from discriminating on the basis of race.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals released its 2-1 decision on Tuesday.

Though Native Hawaiians' initial reaction to the decision ranged from anger to tears and dismay, this morning's rally was a testament of Native Hawaiian unity in the fight to preserve Kamehameha's admissions policy.

Sergeant William Axt of the Honololulu police department estimated the parade of supporters to be 10,000 to 12,000 strong of "very well-behaved people."

While some marchers at the front of the pack wore traditional malo (loincloth), kihei (cape) and kikepa (sarong); many others dressed in red, as requested by organizers, to show their support.

The march started with a two-hour rally at the 'Iolani Palace, with many supporters setting up on the lawn hours earlier.

The parade started from the palace grounds at 10:30 a.m., with so many participants that it took more than 25 minutes for the grounds to empty onto King Street. At one point, supporters stretched from the Palace gates around the corner on Nu'uanu Street all the way mauka to Vineyard Boulevard en route to the Royal Mausoleum.

Some of the marchers were kupuna (elders), pushed in wheelchairs by relatives. Alongside these were mothers pushing babystrollers. The sight illustrated how generations of Native Hawaiians came together this morning to show support for the schools.

Two lanes of King Street were held open during the march. Some passersby honked in support, drawing cheers from the walkers, many of whom chanted "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono" (The life of the land is preserved in righteousness.) — Hawai'i's motto — as they walked.