Several people brought their personal Hawaiian flags, carefully folded up, and unfurled them as the group marched down to Kuhio Highway. The flags flew on tall poles, draped over backs, slung between dowels and in one case, held tightly to the chests of two marchers. One flew upside down, the international symbol of distress.

About 500 people gathered at the King Kaumuali'i School in Hanama'ulu, most in red shirts.

Mayoral administrative assistant Gary Heu, a 1974 graduate of Kamehameha, said it was the largest such gathering he has seen.

"It was a great turnout," he said.

All seven siblings in the family of Jimmy Owens, 60, of Princeville, applied to Kamehameha and none got in. Four of Owens' own five children applied, and just one one was admitted. They still marched.

"If the courts don't change this, it'll be tough to have to admit non-Hawaiians. There's still a lot of Hawaiians that aren't getting in," he said. "Everybody I've talked to is for the school maintaining the same policy they've had all these years."