What if instead of a blood quantum requirement, they changed it to a skill and culture based requirement and applicants have to compete for it.  Speak Hawaiian, dance the hula, farm taro fields and fish ponds, make tapa clothing, etc.  That would perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and traditions far more than anything else would while being constitutional.  I don't see a flood of people wanting to do that for a leased property they still have to build a home on.

Sounds similar to the criteria used to naturalize new US citizens -- intended to assimilate new citizens into US society.

To become a U.S. citizen through naturalization, applicants must meet several key requirements:

Basic Requirements
    Age: Must be at least 18 years old.
    Permanent Residency: Must be a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder) for:
           At least five years, or
           At least three years if married to a U.S. citizen.
    Continuous Residence: Must demonstrate continuous residence in the U.S. during the required period.
Additional Requirements
    Good Moral Character: Applicants must show that they possess good moral character.
    Civics and English Test: Must pass a civics test covering U.S. history and government, as well as an English language test.

What if instead of a blood quantum requirement, they changed it to a skill and culture based requirement and applicants have to compete for it.  Speak Hawaiian, dance the hula, farm taro fields and fish ponds, make tapa clothing, etc.  That would perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and traditions far more than anything else would while being constitutional.  I don't see a flood of people wanting to do that for a leased property they still have to build a home on.

Last year, the federal government handed DHHL $22.3M to build more homes on those lands.

The money comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will fund housing projects statewide to help clear DHHL’s more than 29,000 person waitlist.

DHHL plans to award nearly 1,600 native Hawaiians with agricultural and residential lots through the rest of the year.

“The ongoing allocation of these federal funds allows us to continue
offering affordable housing options that ensure our beneficiaries’ success
and stability for generations to come,” said DHHL Director Kali Watson.

Over the last twenty years, the department has consistently received more
than two times its original allocation, averaging $22.3 million annually.

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/07/05/dhhl-awarded-223m-federal-funds-build-more-hawaiian-housing/

From what I read, a lot of that funding goes to building community centers, beneficiaries' education on buying homes, and things other than actually building homes.

I'm sure a nice chunk goes to pay the salaries of the DHHL workers who decide where to spend the money

So many subjective measures.

DNA don’t lie.

So many subjective measures.

DNA don’t lie.

So, what's the threshold for a DNA test to include someone in the "Hawaiian Race?"

Once you decide that, how long would you predict before mixed race offspring of those Hawaiians no longer qualify at that percentage?

With DNA comes what Kamehameha Schools went through. Hanai was allowed after many years of not being allowed. Now a student who was hanai, wants their non-Hawaiian children to attend cause they attended. So hanai hanai and so on.  IIRC there was a lawsuit that was filed for Kamehameha to allow hanai hanai.

For many years it was a not so well kept secret that you did not necessarily need to have any Hawaiian blood to attend Kamehameha.
As with so many things in Hawaii, it all depends on who you know.

It can be expected that the Hawaiian homes program suffered from similar afflictions. 

Hawaii is a melting pot of races and cultures....