Eligibility for Hawaiian school not based on web DNA test

Question: Will Kamehameha Schools accept a DNA test as proof of Hawaiian heritage for admission to its programs? I mean like from Ancestry.com? My mom’s test came back “Polynesian,” but we don’t have all the paperwork.

Answer: No. Kevin H. Imanaka, a Kamehameha Schools spokesman, explains:

“Currently, Kamehameha Schools does not recognize DNA test results from at-home testing companies because they do not specifically test for Hawaiian ancestry (only broadly for Polynesian ancestry), which does not meet our requirements. These companies also do not provide chain of custody documentation, which provides legal proof that the results belong to the individual who is actually being tested. That’s why at-home DNA testing companies like Ancestry.com have disclaimers on their websites that state their test results cannot be used as legal documentation to support proof of ancestry.

“We continue to monitor the progress of these testing companies because over time we know the more samples they work with, the more likely it is that they will be able to get closer to being able to identify Hawaiian ancestry — at which time we would be interested in understanding how families could use this information in their documentation process.”

Kamehameha Schools, endowed by the will of Hawaiian Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, gives preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry for its educational programs and scholarships, which range from preschool to college and beyond.

To be considered for this preference, applicants must have verified their Hawaiian ancestry with the Kamehameha Schools Ho‘oulu Hawaiian Data Center, apps.ksbe.edu/datacenter.

The three-step process includes completing a Hawaiian Ancestry Registry form, gathering birth certificates and other required documents to support the form, and submitting the form and documents to the data center for verification.

The data center’s website, and the Hawaiian Ancestry Verification Guidebook available for download there, provide detailed instructions for each step. They explain where to obtain the necessary documents and describe alternatives for people who can’t locate required birth certificates. Alternatives, such as marriage certificates, death certificates and certificates of baptism, would be accepted only after a birth certificate search is exhausted.

Of note: Parents can verify Hawaiian ancestry of newborns anytime after birth; they don’t need to wait until applying for a Kamehameha campus, program or scholarship.

Q: What about for paternity? Can you use DNA for that?

A: Yes, in certain circumstances, if the testing meets Kamehameha Schools’ standards, according to the data center’s website.

“If a father is not identified on a child’s birth certificate, or if the identity of the father on the birth certificate is disputed, the identity of the biological father may be determined through DNA testing. The Data Center will only accept notarized and certified DNA test results from parentage testing facilities nationally accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks to identify the child’s biological father,” it states. Find a list of acceptable laboratories on the AABB website, bit.ly/2jXq8Mg.

Along with the DNA results, the person must submit chain of custody documents for the test. These verify who submitted the specimen and accompany the sample through the testing process, to ensure proper identification.

It’s important to request chain of custody documents in writing, before testing begins. All parties tested might need to approve your request, according to the data center’s website.

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.