July 17, 2006
Contributed by KS Webmaster
Permit me to respond to the David Rosen letter (July 11), where he invents a case for discrimination at the Kamehameha Schools.
Arguments both for and against this contention have continued for years, ever since Kamehameha was transformed from a land-rich to cash-rich institution. It seems the richer the institution, the greater the pain felt by those who claim injury.
Perhaps this injury is an acceptable euphemism for avarice, a decidedly Western invention. From my perspective, Rosen doesn't argue for equality of educational opportunity, he argues for a cash gift to be bestowed upon those for whom it was not intended. Where else can you invest $2,000 a year to secure a $20,000 value? That is indeed a handsome return-on-investment. Were all island schools to offer such subsidies, I suspect that Kamehameha Schools would be left to the Hawaiians and the Rosens of this landscape would find other windmills to joust. Perhaps they should set their sights on Santa Claus, who has the extremely bad manners of rewarding rich kids more lavishly than poor kids at Christmas. Now that's a real travesty and worthy of legal redress.
In the meanwhile, our particular Santa, Princess Bernice Pauahi, should be left to do her good works among those she intended to be beneficiaries of her largess. Both Pauahi and her school enjoy the love, respect and aloha of most Islanders. It is long-standing and appreciated. I Mua Kamehameha
Davis Ho, KS '71
Pearl City
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
