UH Recognizes Students’ Affiliation with Hawaiian Kingdom

Hawaii Public Radio reports:

For most college-bound students who are United States citizens, answering questions about citizenship on your college application is fairly simple. But for students at Hawaiʻi Community College or HCC in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, checking that box was a big deal.

“They didn’t feel comfortable registering for school and having to check the American citizenship box, says Ku’ulei Kanahele, a Hawaiian language instructor at HCC.

[…]

Hilo students made their case and their cause made its way up the chain of command in the UH system.

[…]

According to UH spokesman Dan Meizenzahl, the form was first made available in May of this year to all students in the UH system, upon request. So far, 17 students have declared their affiliation to the Hawaiian Kingdom.

[…]

“I know a lot of people within the UH system are not much aware of it much less the weight that it holds for students as well as institutions but overall, as of right now, I believe it’s a good thing, it’s a step in the right direction,” says Akiona.

A step in the direction of lending further credibility to the restoration of the Hawaiian Kingdom, which for some native Hawaiians was never relinquished.