Sept. 11, 2025

Ke Kānāwai Māmalahoa 
“E hele ka ʻelemakule a moe i ke ala, e hiki ka luahine a moe i ke ala, e hele ke keiki a moe i ke ala.”
Old men may travel and lay at the roadside, old women may travel and lay at the roadside, children may travel and lay at the roadside.

We want you to know that we have been preparing for this moment, and we are ready. While this challenge to our admissions policy is serious, it is not unexpected. As our Board of Trustees and CEO have affirmed, our policy aligns with established law, and we are confident we will prevail.

At the same time, this is a moment that calls on us, as a kauhale, to stand firmly in who we are. Kuapapa Nui reminds us that there are times we must fortify our borders, drawing strength from the Hawaiian leadership foundations we have been cultivating together. Māmalahoa calls us to protect and care for one another, so that our keiki, ʻohana, and community know they are never alone.

Here at Kamehameha Hawaiʻi, we will continue to engage, grow, learn, and strengthen our perspectives as a kauhale. And as ʻohana, your aloha, support, and prayers will be essential as wel stand unified for our haumāna, our school, and our lāhui.

We stand in full alignment with the message from our Board of Trustees and CEO. It is also important that you hear directly from me: we are prepared, and we are ready to lead. Together, as a school and as ʻohana, we will show our keiki and our lāhui that we are ʻonipaʻa, steadfast and unified in the vision of Ke Aliʻi Pauahi, for today and for generations to come.

Me ka haʻahaʻa o ke aloha ʻāina ʻoiaʻiʻo,

M. Kāhealani Naeʻole-Wong
Poʻo Kula, Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha ma Hawaiʻi

We are resilient and we will carry ourselves with dignity and pride.