Joy and gratitude over yesterday's ruling in the Kamehameha Schools admissions policy case were tempered by concern among alumni, students, parents and employees that challenges to the institution's Hawaiians-first admissions policy will continue.

"We're proud, but we all agreed it's not a day for bragging," said Gabriel Papa, 18, senior-class president on the Kapalama campus.

"We, as Hawaiians, that's not our style," said Papa, a Kahalu'u resident who said he wants to return to Kamehameha one day and give back to the school in some capacity. "We're taught to be humble and take things as they come."

Adrian Kamalii, president of Na Pua a Ke Ali'i Pauahi, an organization of more than 2,000 Kamehameha students, parents and alumni, also said he was tempering his joy.

"While we're humbled and happy with the decision, we're still mindful that the legalities will continue to be sorted out," said Kamalii, a 2000 graduate. "We're cognizant that this issue will be taken to the Supreme Court. That's been confirmed by John Doe and his attorneys. We know that the legal battle still has a venue and an opportunity to continue."

John Donlin, a 1974 graduate and now a project analyst for the school's strategic planning office, said he's trying very hard to remain on an "even keel" about the decision. "Deep down inside, I was really happy," Donlin said. "This is about educating the children."

Even if the U.S. Supreme Court doesn't agree to review the case, "it's a continuing thing that this keeps happening," Donlin said. "People are going to continue to challenge it."

Tiana Kuni, 17, a Kamehameha senior from 'Aiea, said tears of joy were shed on campus yesterday. "We're happy not because someone else lost, but because people finally understand what our vision is — to perpetuate the education of Native Hawaiian children," Kuni said.

Jan Dill, a former Na Pua president and a 1961 graduate, agreed. "The battle is not over," Dill said. "There is a segment in our community that refuses to accept the goal and values of (founder Bernice Pauahi Bishop) and will constantly seek to hinder their implementation."

If there's something positive to be taken away by Kamehameha supporters from the John Doe case, he said, it's that it motivated the school's ohana, the Hawaiian community at large and all Hawai'i residents to think hard about Kamehameha's role in today's world.

There was certainly no doubt among Kamehameha's supporters that the admissions policy is proper and justified.

"The opinion recognized Kamehameha Schools' unique remedial position, and how that actually makes it stand apart from the civil rights statute that the plaintiff tried to use in this case," said Noelani Jai, a 1983 graduate and an attorney. "There are ongoing educational deficits faced by Native Hawaiian children."

Jai, who lives in Huntington Beach, Calif., was instrumental in rallying the support of Mainland Hawaiians and others behind Kamehameha's fight. "The courts have absolutely recognized that the school's mission is far from over," Jai said.

The preference policy is important for the Hawaiian community, said Micha McPeek, 17, a Kamehameha senior, "especially because the Hawaiian community needs leaders."

While a growing number of Hawaiians are doing well, "there's a very negative stigma that needs to be corrected," said McPeek, a Hilo resident who said he one day wants to return to Kamehameha as a teacher.

Kaua'i Museum director Carol Lovell, who is part-Hawaiian but not a Kamehameha graduate, called the decision "wonderful."

"A lot of what we had has been taken away. This deals with education. Yale, Harvard, the University of Hawai'i — there are so many great schools out there for everyone else. What else is there for Hawaiians?

"It's time for us as a people to say enough, pau, ua pau."

Venesa Iwai, parent of Kamehameha second-grader Kaela Iwai, said she and her family prayed every night that the admissions policy would be upheld.

"We feel this is the only thing we have left," Iwai said. "If they took this away, that would be a major tragedy."

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.