X-Men Star Kelly Hu, Downtown JACL, to Throw Their Support at Rally in Pasadena, California Supporting Kamehameha Schools Admission Policy

21 October 2005

Actress Kelly Hu, and the Downtown Los Angeles Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League will join supporters of the Kamehameha Schools on Saturday October 22, 2005 at noon, in the City of Pasadena, California to protest a recent federal court decision.

The march and rally will begin at Defenders' Parkway between Orange Grove and Grand Avenue. A similar recent rally in San Francisco drew more than 2,000 participants.

The admissions policy at Kamehameha Schools provides a preference to students of Native Hawaiian ancestry. Students must show they have part Hawaiian blood.

The current admissions policy has been in effect for the past 118 years. It was established by trustees in accordance with the charitable rust of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Princess Bishop is a descedent of Hawaii's King Kamehameha I.

In Doe v. Kamehameha, the court recently held that the private school based in Hawaii, must admit any child who wishes to attend. The Kamehameha school was sued by a non Hawaiian teenager from California.

The Downtown Los Angeles JACL recently passed two motions by its Board of Directors. The first indicates the full support for a hearing by the full 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the matter. The second was in support of Kamehameha's admission policy giving preference to native Hawaiians.

"Kamehameha Schools is a vital institution for children of Native Hawaiians," stated Marilynn Nakata, Vice-President of the Downtown Los Angeles JACL. Nakata was born and raised in Hawaii and graduated from the University of Hawaii.

"The school is private and receives no government funding. The admissions policy giving preference to Native Hawaiians is needed because of the severe socioeconomic and educational disadvantages experienced by native Hawaiians, Nakata noted.

Speakers at the rally include actress Kelly Hu, a graduate of Kamehameha Schools. Ms. Hu co-starred in the X2: X-Men United and starred as Yuriko Ayama aka Lady Death Strike. Her other film credits include Cradle 2 the Grave with Jet Li and DMX and The Scorpion King where she co-stars with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. In that film her role is Sorceress Casandra. Her TV credits include Martial Law, Sunset Beach, Nash Bridges, Star Command, The Bold and the Beautiful and Growing pains. Hu studied drama while attending Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii.

Other speakers include Marilynn Nakata, member of the Downtown JACL, Sharon Paulo, member of the Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles, Kalawaia Moore, member of the Hawaii Society of Law & Politics, Le'a Kanehe who is a native rights attorney from Nevada. A representative from Kamehameha Schools Alumni will also speak.

The Downtown Los Angeles JACL is one of the oldest non profit civil rights group based in Los Angeles County.

The event is sponsored by 'Ilio' ulaokalani, a Hawaiian rights organtization based in Honolulu. For more information please contact event coordinator Miki Kim at (323) 839-7880.