Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald address attendees at the 2025 Hawaiʻi Access to Justice Conference at the University of Hawaiʻi’s William S. Richardson School of Law on June 20, 2025.

In June, Hawai‘i’s self-help centers and the Access to Justice Room in Honolulu collectively surpassed 40,000 free legal consultations, providing 215 that month and bringing the total to 40,186 since the first self-help center opened in 2011 on the island of Kaua‘i.

At self-help centers on Hawai‘i Island, Maui, and Kaua‘i, volunteer attorneys, along with AmeriCorps members and Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i staff, provide limited legal information to help self-represented litigants navigate court processes and forms. Access to Justice Rooms at Honolulu District Court and Family Court at the Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex in Kapolei provide limited legal advice to unrepresented litigants involved in civil cases including but not limited to landlord-tenant, small claims, district court matters and family law.

Hawai‘i Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald shared his heartfelt appreciation for the work done by the many volunteers during his keynote address at the 2025 Hawai‘i Access to Justice Conference—an annual event sponsored by the Hawai‘i Access to Justice Commission at the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law on June 20.

“Together we have helped more than 40,000 individuals in the last 14 years. That is nearly 20,000 pro bono hours,” Recktenwald said. “Assuming an attorney’s hourly rate of $250, the self-help centers have provided over $5 million in legal services at almost no cost to the state.”

Chief Justice Recktenwald makes his final keynote address at an Access to Justice Conference as Chief Justice.

“Thank you to the Hawai‘i State Bar Association, the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i, its AmeriCorps members, and the hundreds of volunteer attorneys—from private attorneys, solo practitioners, and government attorneys to law firms and bar groups, including the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Office of the Public Defender, Hawai‘i Filipino Lawyers Association, and Hawai‘i Women Lawyers—for making this project possible and sustainable. It is truly a team effort,” Recktenwald said.

The National Center for Access to Justice ranks Hawai‘i 6th in its most recent Justice Index, which assesses how well each state has established access to justice in areas including attorney access, self-representation access, language access, and disability access.

“This recognition is a point of pride and a testament to everyone’s hard work. It is a remarkable achievement considering Hawai‘i’s Access to Justice Commission is wholly comprised of volunteers with no operating budget, yet we continue to set a high standard in access to justice,” Recktenwald said.

The Hawaiʻi Access to Justice Conference featured a panel discussion that highlighted the Hawaiʻi Access to Justice Commission’s accomplishments, future goals, and the impact of federal developments. Panel members included Chief Justice Recktenwald; former ATJ Commission Chair, Justice Simeon Acoba, Jr. (ret.); former ATJ Commission Chair and Intermediate Court of Appeals Chief Judge Daniel Foley (ret.); Hawaiʻi State Representative Della Au Belatti; and Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza (ret.), who has served as Chair of the Hawaiʻi Access to Justice Commission since 2016.

Hawaiʻi Access to Justice Commission Chair and Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza (ret.) (far right) moderates a panel discussion during the 2025 Hawaiʻi Access to Justice Conference. Panel members (from right to left) include Intermediate Court of Appeals Chief Judge Daniel Foley (ret.), Justice Simeon Acoba, Jr. (ret.), Chief Justice Recktenwald, and Hawaiʻi State Representative Della Au Belatti.

Access to Justice Workshops

In addition to the keynote and panel discussions, the 2025 Hawai‘i Access to Justice Conference featured a series of informative workshops led by legal professionals and community advocates. The workshops covered a range of pressing access to justice topics:

Building Disaster Resilience by Addressing Heirs Property
Sharla Manley, Devon Haia
This workshop examined the legal challenges associated with heirs property and offered strategies to resolve clouded title, manage family lands collectively, and address Hawaiian homestead successorship.

Strengthening Housing Stability Through Early Eviction Mediation
Tracey Wiltgen (facilitator), Judge Jeffrey Crabtree (ret.), Bevanne Bowers, Roberta Hickey-Gómez
Panelists discussed the implementation and impact of early eviction mediation programs on O‘ahu and Maui under Act 202, which aim to prevent housing instability.

Access to Justice for Workers
Jeremy O’Steen, Nelson Salvador, Lisa Grandinetti
This session explored how Hawai‘i’s workers—both unionized and non-unionized—access the legal system for issues like wage theft, unsafe conditions, and discrimination.

Elder Law, Special Needs, and Access to Justice
James Pietsch, Scott Suzuki
Presenters provided updates on elder and disability law, including financing long-term care, guardianship, and special needs trusts.

Immigration Crisis
Corey Park (facilitator), Liza Ryan-Gill, Stephanie Sevilla, Neribel Chardon
This panel addressed the impact of federal immigration policy changes on Hawai‘i communities, with a focus on asylum, citizenship, and due process rights.

Family Courts and Access to Justice
Judge Dyan Medeiros, Judge Courtney Naso, Judge Robert J. Brown, Judge Andrew Park
An overview of the Volunteer Settlement Master (VSM) Program, including updates and how volunteer attorneys help resolve custody and financial disputes outside of court.

New Approaches to Civil Access to Justice
Heather Lusk (facilitator), Aphirak Bamrungruan, Dina Shek, Judge Thomas Haia
This session explored innovative methods to expand civil justice access, including medical-legal partnerships, cultural and language services, and the use of technology and AI.

Are You Being Replaced? Innovations in Access to Justice
Judge Joseph Cardoza (ret.) (facilitator), Justice Vladimir Devens, Matthew Stubenberg
Panelists discussed the integration of artificial intelligence and other innovations in civil access to justice, highlighting both opportunities and challenges.

Restorative Justice and Special Education
Rep. Della Au Belatti (facilitator), Judge Kirstin Hamman, Kathryn Mayer, Chastity Imamura
This workshop offered an introduction to special education law (IDEA) in Hawai‘i and examined how restorative justice could improve outcomes for families.