By Patrick Pihana Branco
NaHHA is proud to share an article from one of our Lamakū Hoʻokipa—Beacons of Hospitality—who exemplify the value of mālama and are making meaningful impact as contributing members of the Native Hawaiian community.
When Princess Pauahi wrote her will on Oct. 31, 1883, our people were in crisis. The Native Hawaiian population had been reduced by over 80% and many feared the complete disappearance of Native Hawaiians by the 21st century.
Disease, land loss, and disenfranchisement pushed families, culture, and language to the brink of erasure and forced Native Hawaiians into the margins of our homeland.
In the face of desolation, Princess Pauahi chose hope. Her Royal Highness looked to the future and dedicated her wealth so that Native Hawaiian children could rise again – educated, rooted, industrious, and ready to lead.
This act of aloha changed the course of history for all of Hawaiʻi – native and local.
Kamehameha became more than just a school; it became a lifeline. Generations of Native Hawaiians were lifted up as teachers, doctors, historians, lawmakers, entrepreneurs, leaders, and public servants whose work strengthens all of Hawaiʻi. Her gift radiates far beyond the gates of the campuses touching every corner of Hawaiʻi.
Current attacks on the schools’ admissions policy are not just about a school. They challenge Pauahi’s last will and trust, the survival of our people, and the future of spaces dedicated to the growth, leadership, and learning of Native Hawaiians.
This is a time to unite – alumni, Hawaiians, and all of Hawaiʻi. From Kapālama to Kauaʻi, from Hawaiian Homesteads to urban apartments, this legacy belongs to all of us. Kamehameha Schools is not about exclusion; it is about the truth that when Native Hawaiians thrive, all of Hawaiʻi thrives.
Each of us has a role. Some stand in classrooms, others in loʻi, offices, or the legislature. What matters most is living our kuleana and standing together to protect Princess Pauahi’s vision.
She gave us hope when hope was scarce. She trusted us to carry forward her generous gift. Let us answer that call with humility, courage, and aloha.
Patrick Pihana Branco is a former U.S. diplomat and Hawaiʻi State Representative for District 50. A graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Hawaiʻi Pacific University, and Johns Hopkins University, he served in the U.S. Foreign Service from 2012 to 2019. In 2024, Branco became the first Native Hawaiian appointed to the prestigious White House Fellowship program.
