That is simply not true. They preferred the long form because it had information on the parents' birth place, but you could certainly apply using a short form if you submitted other evidence regarding your parents' origin.
Now here's a question: do you know why the Hawaii Homelands department wants to the know the parents' birthplace?
Ok, the long form not required but the info on it was required and easiest to get from the long form.
As for requiring the parents birth place could that be because they wanted only NATURAL BORN (Hawaiian) CITIZENS to be eligible for the Hawaii Homelands scam? LOL. Actually Yes I know why and I have lived in Hawaii. Aloha