US conservatives sue to dismantle Native Hawaiian healthcare scholarships

In a press release about the lawsuit, Do No Harm said the scholarship’s requirement that applicants be “Native Hawaiians” was a violation of federal law and tantamount to “racial discrimination”.

The medical advocacy group Do No Harm filed a federal lawsuit in April 2026 to dismantle the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP), arguing that its race-based eligibility criteria are unconstitutional. 

Key Details of the Lawsuit

• Legal Challenge: The lawsuit, filed against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), claims the program violates federal law by discriminating based on race and ethnicity.
• Plaintiff's Argument: Do No Harm represents three anonymous individuals who were reportedly barred from applying because they are not Native Hawaiian. The group argues that medical care should not be based on "culturally responsive" theories they claim are debunked.
• Defense Perspective: Papa Ola Lōkahi, the nonprofit that administers the program, defends it as a vital tool to address disproportionately high rates of chronic illness and health disparities in Native Hawaiian communities.
• Broader Context: This challenge follows the 2023 Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in university admissions. It is part of a wider effort by conservative legal groups to target diversity-focused programs, including a similar ongoing case against the admissions policy of Kamehameha Schools. 

About the Scholarship Program
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Established by Congress under the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act of 1988, the NHHSP provides full tuition and a monthly stipend to students in exchange for a commitment to serve in medically underserved areas of Hawaii. Since its inception, it has supported more than 320 Native Hawaiian healthcare professionals.

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