A federal appeals court today struck down the Kamehameha Schools' century-old Hawaiian preference admissions policy, saying it violates federal anti-discrimination law.

A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit of Appeals ruled 2-1 in favor of an unidentified non-Hawaiian high school student who was turned down for admission in 2003. The decision reversed a ruling by U.S. District Judge Alan Kay that the Kamehameha Schools could continue the Hawaiians-only admissions policy because of its unique historical circumstances.

"We ... find that the schools' admission policy, which operates in practice as an absolute bar for those on the non-preference race, constitutes unlawful discrimination," wrote 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jay Bybee.