Kamehameha Schools settled lawsuit for $7M

Kamehameha Schools paid $7 million to settle a lawsuit filed by an anonymous student who claimed the schools' Hawaiians-first admissions policy violates civil rights laws, according to an attorney involved in ...

[Call me Hawaiian]

I think that Kamehameha schools should not have paid the money to these people.

In the will it said that the school was for Hawaiian people only. So you are telling me that if I made a will, it could be challenged and my last wishes could be violated due to a few very selfish people who don’t care anything and about people rights but themselves alone.

This is a real shame. American people have taken many things from the Hawaiians and now that there aren’t much more to take, they still want to take whats left over. I say again, what a shame....

[hawaiilanny]

I guess money brings out the worst in people and now the "rats" are fighting over the "cheese".

[joe]

If this newspaper really wanted to know who John Doe was, it really isn't that hard to find out. But it's run by the "whites", so why point out the bad "whites" when they can continually help violate the natives.

[Andrew]

Does it not say "Children of Hawaii"?

I think that Hawaiian blood must not be the sole qualification. If a person, born and raised in Hawaii, stretching back generations, wants to immerse themselves in Hawaiian culture should they not be afforded the same opportunity?

Preference to native Hawaiians, but why not have a quota of non-Hawaiians who can demonstrate a true desire to learn more about the culture they have grown up in? Those that may not be Hawaiian, but that are Hawaiian at heart?

[kokokahi girl]

Yes, the plaintiff's case is shameful and I agree Kamehameha Schools shouldn't have settled. However, I think Kamehameha Schools planted a karmic seed of dissent when it started making the schools elitist. If its real mission continued to be concerned with educating (all) "children of Hawaiian ancestry," instead of becoming an elitist institution it would not have found itself in this mess. I hate to say it, but maybe the threat of more lawsuits will help the schools find their true purpose again...if it's not too late.

[kokokahi girl]

Yes, the plaintiff's case is shameful and I agree Kamehameha Schools shouldn't have settled. However, I think Kamehameha Schools planted a karmic seed of dissent when it started making the schools elitist. If its real mission continued to be concerned with educating (all) "children of Hawaiian ancestry," instead of becoming an elitist institution it would not have found itself in this mess. I hate to say it, but maybe the threat of more lawsuits will help the schools find their true purpose again...if it's not too late.

[shorty]

kamehameha just opened up a flood gate of new lawsuits.

[Vince]

It is a shame that the question could not be resolved by the Supreme Court. I feel this is only the beginning of litigation. In the meantime, the Estate is wasting money on legal fees and settlements which would otherwise benefit the children.

[a white guy here]

well before all you all get all bent up and start blaming "whites" you need to make sure your not getting too prejudice.

I am a white guy and think this lawsuit and the settlement is total bullshit. ITS NOT YOURS. KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF THE COOKIE JAR ! To you lawyers and the cowardly hide in the shadows "john doe" I hope all of you F'n choke on the money.

The best, possibly brightest and joyous part of the whole article I think is the last section where it describes how the lawyers are now suing each other and "john doe" for payments and money. HAHAHAHA greedy bastards. HAHAHAHA CHOKE ! CHOKE ! CHOKE !

[Michael]

This whole issue is incredibly stupid. It shows the lack of respect for a culture that has been slighted since the first settlers came and the diseases they brought with them. This reminds me of Shannon Faulkner.

Ms. Faulkner was the first female to be admitted to the Charleston, South Carolina Citadel military academy in 1995, gaining entrance after a bitter legal battle. However, she left after a week of what was later described as brutal treatment from her fellow male cadets. I'm sure Kamehameha students wouldn't be so mean, but they may shun him/her. What would the parents do next, hire a lawyer to then sue the school and make the Hawaiian students be nice to their child?

There is no serious thought to the consequences that a non-Hawaiian child would endure. This lawsuit has nothing to do with education. It's about ego, notoriety, and money. As a teacher in an urban school in California, it amazes the lengths that some parents will go to, to screw over their own kids. Some don't realize that their actions affect their child's psychological and emotional growth.

[Shigeki]

it's complete bs its what it is. First they shouldn't have settled. Please tell me how in hell they violated the civil rights law way before the thing was established. Man don't need to call them Jane/John doe, we all know who it is by now, they asked for trouble literally by filing the lawsuit in the first place. Yea Houston by the way Your deadwrong, it was the will that established that fact that only hawaiian heritage are allowed in that school. Unless The so called Plaintiffs can prove that, they are screwed.

Bloody Greed is what it is. Shame on Youse!

[Mailelaulii]

There is nothing in this world that the white man did not touch. Sad but true.

[hammer san francisco]

Kamehameha should remain for the Hawai'ian kids. A person's will should be respected. The kids need all the help they can get. My niece graduated from Kamehameha with a good education and now has a good job in a career she chose. Education! They should not have paid out. More lawsuits will follow. Like water, greed takes the path of least resistance. P.S. My niece learned everything except how to be humble. Maybe she took extra classes at Punahou.

[hammer san francisco]

[QUOTE ho"a white guy here"]well before all you all get all bent up and start blaming "whites" you need to make sure your not getting too prejudice.
I am a white guy and think this lawsuit and the settlement is total bullshit. ITS NOT YOURS. KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF THE COOKIE JAR ! To you lawyers and the cowardly hide in the shadows "john doe" I hope all of you F'n choke on the money.
The best, possibly brightest and joyous part of the whole article I think is the last section where it describes how the lawyers are now suing each other and "john doe" for payments and money. HAHAHAHA greedy bastards. HAHAHAHA CHOKE ! CHOKE ! CHOKE !
[/QUOTE]Great post

[Shame on you]

Shame on you Kamehameha Schools! Take some of those billions $$ and build a campus on the West side so those poor children don't have to spend 4 hours a day making the comute to your elite campus. You set yourself up for for many more lawsuits.

[Lem_Loma Linda_CA]

I was one of many Hawaiian children that did not gain entrance to Kamehameha. I don't know of anyone who decided it wasn't fair and take it to court. I would venture to say that over the years Kamehameha Schools has done much for Hawaii. Its product are the invalueable citizens. Because of Kamehameha Schools our culture continues on, and the people of all color reaps the benefits. There is not a single reason outside of selfness and greed that motivate people to disrespect Hawaiians, our history, our will, and our culture. Keep Kamehameha Hawaiian.

[Nainoas mom]

Kamehameha Schools was created for a reason. To give educational opportunities to native Hawaiian kids. There are plenty of other private schools that 'John Doe' could have enrolled in - who was it that pushed a 17 year old to pursue this? I am very sad to see that it has come to this, and I think Kamehameha Schools has now opened themselves up to more legal problems. Should I have decided to go to Kamehameha Schools, I met the 'criteria', however my son does not - but I totally & completely respect that! And I'm sorry to see that other have lost that respect...

[Pat]

Respect. We should respect entitlements devised to assist any specific race to have a fair chance at the "American dream." Lawyers and lawsuits would not be needed if we would just respect each another, be honest, and do the right thing. The settlement is not a win-win situation and I consider it "blood" money as evidenced by the plaintiff's attorneys filing lawsuits against those supposedly on the same team. The money gained will probably be squandered away frivolously. Don't they know that God is watching and His judgment will be upon them? Kau Inoa.

[Melissa]

I recently moved to Alaska and to hear this just makes me so angry. Its bad enough that the cost of living there is outrageous but the one thing specifically made for the Hawaiian people is being taken. Theres many public and private schools to chose from in Hawaii why cant they go there? I think Kamehameha should've fought it, I would have.

[Pat]

Respect. We need to respect entitlements reserved for entities to assist them in obtaining the "American dream." If we respected one another we would have no need for attorneys nor lawsuits. This is not a win-win situation and nothing positive will come out of this for the plaintiff and their legal team as evidenced by the lawsuits they filed against one another. The "blood" money will be frivolously squandered away and they will be in more of a financial mess as a result. We should all realize that God is watching and He will be the final judge over all that we do here on earth. We must all try to do the right things in life, be honest, and spread the Aloha. Kau Inoa.