Rallies 'brought everybody together'
Advertiser Staff William ing | Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP ON THE BIG ISLAND
Hawaiians and their supporters gathered on both sides of the Big Island yesterday morning to support Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy.
Wearing red T-shirts and carrying banners, about 400 people in Kona marched from Hale Halawai through Kailua to 'Ahu'ena Heiau Ho'okupu.
In Kea'au, Makia Ah Quin, a 16-year-old junior at the Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i Campus, was among hundreds of people who attended a prayer service at the school.
"I was really surprised by the turnout," Ah Quin said. "It was the most Hawaiian people I'd seen gathered in one spot.
"There were a lot of different emotions. A lot of guys came in mad, others didn't know what to expect. But there was a lot of unity. This brought everybody together."
Hundreds turned out at the East Hawai'i demonstration along Highway 11 in Hilo yesterday morning. Another 400 or so joined a rally on the west side of the Big Island.
