HONOLULU — Approximately 100 Hawaiian studies students from the University of Hawaii (UH) rallied at the state Capitol last month in support of tuition waivers for Native Hawaiians.
Haunani Kay Trask, former director of the Center for Hawaiin Studies, says her group feels it can legally argue in support of the tuition waivers because the university sits on 16,000 acres of ceded land.
The students said they are upset that the Senate has refused to hold a hearing on a similar bill. But Senate leaders say the issue of tuition waivers should be left up to the university regents.
About 5,000 Hawaiian students are enrolled at the various campuses of the UH system.
University regents are concerned that other ethnic groups also could seek tuition waivers if Hawaiians are granted free tuition.
The House Higher Education Committee was to hold a hearing later in the month on a Native Hawaiian tuition waiver proposal.
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