Wailuku, MAUI – Access to justice – especially for those who don’t have an attorney – just got better thanks to the Maui County Bar Association, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, and recently retired Second Circuit Chief Judge Joseph Cardoza.

The Self-Help Center at Hoapili Hale (Maui Circuit Court in Wailuku), will be open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning August 5. Previously it was open only on Thursdays.

Volunteer attorneys and an Americorps Advocate provide limited legal information to self-represented individuals involved in District and Family court civil matters. They assist with issues related to landlord-tenant disputes, collection cases, District and Family Court temporary restraining orders, divorces, custody cases, and other civil matters. The volunteer attorneys may help with ensuring court forms are properly completed and helping individuals to better understand court documents. The volunteers may also try to answer as many legal procedural questions as possible.

“Maui County is very fortunate and grateful for the efforts of Judge Cardoza, the Maui County Bar Association and the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii for their guidance and leadership and for the unselfish attorneys in our circuit who so generously donate their time and talent to assist the self-represented parties in our community,” said Second Circuit Chief Judge Richard T. Bissen, Jr. “I also want to thank the Hawaii State Bar Association for their generous financial support of the Self-Help Center operations. Mahalo a nui loa to all.”

“Expanding the hours of the Maui Self Help Center is a win-win for everyone involved,” said Damir Kouliev, MCBA Vice President and Wailuku-based attorney. “The community will benefit immensely from greater access to legal information, and our judges appreciate it when self-represented litigants are better-prepared. My fellow attorneys and I find that volunteering not only feels good intrinsically, but fosters camaraderie between colleagues,” he added.

“We thank the MCBA and all the volunteer attorneys for answering the need to increase access to justice in our community,” said Yukari Murakami, managing attorney for the Maui office of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. “With the expanded hours, we hope that those that are unrepresented and have no choice but to navigate the legal system on their own, can now get meaningful help towards solving their legal issues.”

Molokai and Lanai residents, and those living in Hana, may call 808-495-5527 when the Self-Help Center is open. All other Maui County residents must go in-person for assistance.