It is an unofficial symbol of the William S. Richardson School of Law, reflecting its ethos for legal education. As such, particularly in consideration of the human rights concerns of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement (in which the annexation and establishment of the State of Hawaii is generally viewed as illegal because it was accomplished through legislation instead of a separate treaty), Kānāwai Māmalahoe has been the subject of extended controversy. Issues surround the use of the law of Kamehameha I in the state's constitution and the treatment of homeless persons, especially those of native descent, many of whom reside upon ancestral lands that have been converted to public use or private property under State law. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser published an editorial discussing modern-day application of the Law of the Splintered Paddle to contemporary homeless populations living in Hawaii. The editorial advocated for support of House Bill 1889 introduced in the Hawaii legislature in 2014 and recognized a homeless persons' bill of rights. References Hawaii law 1797 in Hawaii Hawaii culture Human rights in the United States