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E ʻOnipa‘a Kākou: Protecting Pauahi’s Legacy Together

Sept. 4, 2025

Aloha nō e ka ʻohana o Kamehameha,  

We write to you in the spirit of aloha, pono, and wiwoʻole. 

We anticipated that our nearly 140-year-old admissions policy, providing preference to Native Hawaiian children, would again be challenged. It appears that moment is upon us. Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha is being confronted by a national organization mobilizing opposition to our policy. We want to assure you that our kula and operational leaders are prepared and committed to vigorously defending the vision of Ke Ali‘i Pauahi. We are confident that our policy aligns with established law, and we will prevail. 

The road ahead will be long, but as Ke Aliʻi Pauahi did in her time, let us turn to our faith in Ke Akua, in Hawaiʻi’s ancestors and traditions, and in our lāhui, to grant us the strength and guidance needed as we stand firmly to protect what is pono.  

Your strength and kōkua will be essential in this fight. We will be reaching out soon with ways you can stand with us. Just as we did decades ago when Ke Aliʻi Pauahi’s will was challenged, now again is the time for us to ʻonipaʻa and unite as a lāhui, for Ke Ali‘i Pauahi, and for generations of keiki and moʻopuna to come. 

I mua e nā pōkiʻi, a inu i ka wai ʻawaʻawa. ʻAʻohe hope e hoʻi mai ai.   

Me ke aloha a me ka ʻoiaʻiʻo,  

Board of Trustees 
Crystal Rose, Chair 
Noelani Goodyear-Kaʻōpua, Vice Chair 
Michelle Kaʻuhane, Secretary/Treasurer 
Elliot Mills 

Chief Executive Officer 

Jack Wong 


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i mua kamehameha, ʻonipaʻa kākou, native hawaiian identity, kamehameha schools

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Kawaiaha‘o Plaza

567 South King St.
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 523-6200

KS Hawai‘i

16-716 Volcano Rd.
Kea‘au, HI 96749
(808) 982-0000

KS Kapālama

1887 Makuakāne St.
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 842-8211

KS Maui

275 ‘A‘apueo Pkwy
Pukalani, HI 96768
(808) 572-3100

Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.

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