A law student who comes from Hilo

This week we are featuring Sherilyn Tavares from Hilo, Hawai‘i. Sherilyn tells us what high school she graduated from, why she decided to attend high school and provides some insight. Find out more about Sherilyn in our video below.



As part of our community outreach, for the next several weeks, we are providing a series of video clips of law students (and a few lawyers) on our blog. These law students and lawyers share their experience either in law school or in the legal profession.

We invite you to watch these brief video clips and hear what these inspirational people have to say.

The Sun v. Māui - an adventure with Bigs and Littles

Did you already forget what Bigs and Littles are? Or is this the first time you've heard of Bigs and Littles? If so, CLICK HERE to read what Bigs and Littles are.

On Saturday, March 21, 2009, Ka Huli Ao, the William S. Richardson School of Law, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu hosted Waimānalo 5th, 6th, and 7th graders at the law school. The full partnership also includes Kamehameha Schools and the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

Below is a video to watch the Bigs and Littles during their mock trial of Kalā v. Māui. Kalā is the Sun. In Hawaiian folklore, Māui, a demi-god, slowed down the Sun from racing across the sky for the purpose of helping the people. One benefit of slowing the sun was that kapa could dry during the day. To read more about our mock trial version of the Sun (Kalā) and Māui, CLICK HERE. Below the video are a few photos.







After the mock trial, the Littles went on a tour of part of the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa campus. The last photo was taken at the NEW Frear Hall.

Hawai‘i Native Courts?

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Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law presents:
MAOLI THURSDAY
Thursday, April 2, 2009
12:45pm - 1:45 pm
Classroom 3
William S. Richardson School of Law
AN ALTER-NATIVE COURT FOR HAWAI‘I: Exploring The Needs and Possibilities

Ka Huli Ao Post-J.D. Fellow, Ka‘ano‘i Walk leads a discussion on the idea of a Native court in Hawai‘i. Is there a need for a Native Court? What jurisdiction could such a court have? How do Native courts operate in other settings? Ka‘ano‘i is joined in the discussion by T.J. Quan, a practicing attorney, currently working with the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, who has also represented Native Hawaiians in both criminal and civil courts. Ka‘ano‘i is also joined Colin Kippen, a Native Hawaiian and a former tribal court judge for the Suquamish Tribe.

Nanakuli's own Sapolu

This week we're featuring Nānākuli's own Chasid Sapolu. Chasid graduated from Nānākuli High & Intermediate School. In the spring of Chasid's first year of law school, he was awarded the 2008 Patsy Mink Fellowship and spent the summer working in Washington D.C. Watch the video below to see what Chasid shares with us about law school.



As part of our community outreach, for the next several weeks, we are providing a series of video clips of law students (and a few lawyers) on our blog. These law students and lawyers share their experience either in law school or in the legal profession.

We invite you to watch these brief video clips and hear what these inspirational people have to say.

Revisiting Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal Symposium

Pictured above (from L to R) Dr. Aileen Moreton-Robinson, Prof. Rebecca Tsosie, Prof. Kapua Sproat, Doris Tam (3L), Prof. Ani Mikaere, and Prof. Melody MacKenzie.


Ka Huli Ao, with the Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal, co-sponsored the INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S RIGHTS: Conflicts and Challenges for Today's Indigenous Women symposium on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

Video footage from the symposium is now available for viewing.

Part 1 of 4


Part 2 of 4


Part 3 of 4


Part 4 of 4

Weekly video series featuring Ashley Obrey.

This week, we're featuring third year law student Ashley Obrey, who speaks
about law school, why she chose to attend law school, and what she thinks people considering a legal education can do in preparation for law school.



As part of our community outreach, for the next several weeks, we are providing a series of video clips of law students (and a few lawyers) on our blog. These law students and lawyers share their experience either in law school or in the legal profession.

We invite you to watch these brief video clips and hear what these inspirational people have to say.

Summer Law Clerk opportunity.

Anosh Yaqoob, a 2008 graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law and multi-award winner at both the 2007 and 2008 National NALSA Moot Court Competition, spent the summer of 2007 working for a national law firm. Anosh worked in the Sacramento, California office of Fredericks Peebles & Morgan LLP. While he worked there, he described his experience as a great opportunity where he worked on interesting assignments. That firm, Fredericks Peebles & Morgan is now hiring summer law clerks for 2009. The language from the notice below comes from a pdf file we recently received and presents law students with a great opportunity to apply to work with a recognized firm.

FREDERICKS PEEBLES & MORGAN LLP

Attorneys at Law
2009 SUMMER LAW CLERKS

Fredericks Peebles & Morgan LLP (“FPM”) is a nationwide firm specializing in the practice of Federal Indian law. FPM represents Native American tribes and organizations in a wide spectrum of areas including business transactions, litigation and governmental affairs.

FPM is seeking applications for 2009 Summer Law Clerks in its Louisville, Colorado; Omaha, Nebraska; and Washington, D.C. offices. Applicants must be enrolled in an ABA accredited law school. Second or third year law students preferred. Strong interest in federal Indian law required. Experience working with Tribes or coursework in federal Indian law or related areas helpful. Applicants must also possess excellent analytical, research and communication skills, and the ability to work well independently and as a team in a fast paced environment. FPM offers a competitive stipend for a 10-week summer clerkship.

Please email your cover letter, resume, a writing sample and law school transcripts to:

• Louisville, Colorado – Susan Tillman at stillman@ndnlaw.com;


• Washington DC – Derril Jordan at djordan@ndnlaw.com; or


• Omaha, Nebraska - Bonnie Cox at bcox@ndnlaw.com

For additional information about FPM, visit our website at www.ndnlaw.com.

Externship Opportunity with the Indian Land Tenure Foundation

Externship Opportunity with the Indian Land Tenure Foundation


The Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) is seeking a second year law student to serve as an extern for the summer of 2009. The externship is a full-time position over the course of 10 weeks (400 hours) beginning June 1, 2009. The extern will be primarily working out of northern Minnesota, near the White Earth and Leech Lake Reservations. This is a paid externship.
ILTF’s mission is to ensure that "land within the original boundaries of every reservation and other areas of high significance where tribes retain aboriginal interest are in Indian ownership and management." We support this mission by working with tribal land offices, legal service providers and Indian landowners throughout Indian Country. The areas of focus for the summer extern are:

• Conduct Community Education and Outreach sessions.


• Contact and meet with American Indian clients from the Leech Lake and White Earth Reservations who have requested assistance in preparing wills or other estate planning documents in compliance with the American Indian Probate Reform Act.


• Research BIA and county records related to clients’ property interest.



The deadline for applications is April 27, 2009.

Student applicants must demonstrate professional, as well as legal, communication and writing skills. Students must also have basic knowledge of estate planning; successful completion an introductory property, estate planning, or probate course is preferred. Background knowledge on Indian land history is not required, but a desire to understand the historic relations between tribes and governments is critical. Research, analysis and data collection experience is preferred. The applicant must be willing to live in northern Minnesota for the summer, to travel and interact in new or different environments socially and culturally. Please submit letter of interest and resume with references and recommendations to:

Howard D. Valandra, Vice President Grants and Programs
Indian Land Tenure Foundation
151 East County Road B2
Little Canada, MN 55117
Office 651/766-8999
Fax 651/766-0012
hvalandra@indianlandtenure.org

Indigenous Women's Rights: Conflicts and Challenges for Today's Indigenous Women

The Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal, is hosting (with Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law co-sponsoring), "INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S RIGHTS: Conflicts and Challenges for Today's Indigenous Women"

You can view the symposium brochure by CLICKING HERE.

WHERE: William S. Richardson School of Law; 2515 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI Moot Court Room
WHEN: Thursday March 12, 2009 - 11:00 am - 5:30 pm

11:00 - 11:15 am
Opening Remarks
Refreshments

11:15 - 12:35
Keynote Speech: Professor Ani Mikaere
Director, Maori Laws and Philosophy
Te Wananga o Raukawa, Aotearoa/New Zealand

12:35 - 1:00 pm
LIGHT LUNCH

1:00 - 2:00 pm
Professor Rebecca Tsosie
Director, Indian Legal Program
Arizona State University

2:00 - 2:15 pm
Refreshments

2:15 - 3:15pm
Dr. Aileen Moreton-Robinson
ARC Post-Doctorate Research Fellow
Queensland University of Technology, Australia

3:15 - 3:30 pm
Refreshments

3:30 - 4:30 pm
Panel on Indigenous Women's Rights
Moderated by Professor D. Kapua Sproat,
University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law

4:30 - 5:30 pm
Closing Remarks
Reception

For Third Consecutive Year, UH Places Among Top Teams

UH Law School Moot Court Team Again Finishes Among the Top Teams In National Competition

HONOLULU ­­­– Students from the University of Hawai`i’s William S. Richardson School of Law successfully defended their title and won second place again at the National Native American Law Students Association’s Moot Court Competition. More than 40 teams from 17 law schools across the United States competed. This marks the third year in a row that a University of Hawai`i Law School team competed in the final round.

“Once again our students worked very hard and did an outstanding job in this intense national competition,” said Avi Soifer, Dean of the Law School. “We are very proud of all these students and very grateful to all the members of the legal community who helped them prepare so well for the national competition.”

The 17th annual National Native American Law Students Association’s Moot Court Competition was hosted this year by the law schools at the University of Colorado and Denver University. Law students compete by arguing both sides of a simulated appeals court case both orally and in writing.

Third year law student Ann Otteman and second year law student Jesse Smith completed five oral argument rounds before reaching the final round. Otteman and Smith took second place in the Best Advocates category, while a team from Columbia Law School finished in First Place. This category represents the top team of competitors in the oral argument portion of the competition.

Other students who competed included third year law students Rafael Renteria, Christopher Santos, and Terrence Thornburgh, and second year law students Lahela Hite, Chasid Sapolu, Scott Shishido, Ka`upena Soon, and Kau`i Yamane. Six of these students also reached the top 16 team bracket. These Hawai'i law students were accompanied by Joni Domingues and Uilisone Tua.

Hawai`i judges, attorneys, and law professors helped to prepare Hawai`i’s teams. The judges included federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Richard Clifton, District Court Judges David Ezra and Michael Seabright, and Magistrate Judge Leslie Kobayashi.

The Honolulu Advertiser also had an article on this.

3 Lawyers share observations of Supreme Court ceded lands case

On Thursday, March 5, 2009, Ka Huli Ao hosted its monthly Maoli Thursday lunch-time event. This past Maoli Thursday was titled, "State v. OHA Oral Argument: What Really Happened at the U.S. Supreme Court?" Just like all other Maoli Thursdays, this too was FREE and OPEN to the public. A number of non-law school affiliated people were present. This event was also live-streamed over the internet by Ka Huli Ao.

The guest speakers were:

• Sherry Broder


• Melody MacKenzie


• Richard Naiwi Wurdeman

You can find out what was said by watching the video.

Next month's Maoli Thursday is scheduled, for April 2, 2009 at 12:45. Subscribe to our e-mail list (to the right) and we'll be sure to keep you updated.

Richardson Law Students and Waimānalo Keiki

Ka Huli Ao, and the law school, have developed a working relationship with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu. The full partnership also includes Kamehameha Schools and the Honolulu Academy of Arts. We blogged about the early stages of the planning for this last November 13.

Law students serve as mentors to 6th, 7th and 8th graders from Waimānalo. Once a month, law students ("Bigs") meet with the Waimānalo keiki ("Littles") for some fun activities.

Law student mentors will meet with their young mentees in the spring of 2009 for a few hours each month. The program expects to provide a variety of activities that will foster a relationship between individual law students and elementary-intermediate school students.

Participating law students are: Aeri Yum, Amy Brinker, Barron Oda, Ha‗aheo Kaho‘ohalahala, Jennifer Humphries, Jennifer Lee, Jessica Domingo, Jessica Taba, Joni Domingues, Lianne Aoki, Mariah Carmichael, Page Kraker, Sari Sanchez, Sherilyn Tavares, and Stephen Wood.

We expect that both our Bigs and Littles will continue having fun as we move forward with this program. Mahalo to Big Brothers and Big Sisters for providing us with the photographs.

Maoli Thursday, March 5, 2009 - STATE V. OHA

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
A live stream will be used to broadcast this event online. The webcast will be shown at both stopsellingcededlands.com and www.uhm-nativehawaiianlaw.blogspot.com.

At issue in State v. OHA is whether the State can transfer "ceded" lands before Native Hawaiians' "unrelinquished claims" to those lands are resolved. how did the U.S. Supreme Court Justices respond to this issue at the oral argument on February 25? Come and hear first-hand observations straight from Washington!

Featured speakers include:

• Sherry Broder


• Richard Naiwi Wurdeman


• Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie

*Maoli Thursday is a lunchtime forum & speaker series held every first Thursday of the month. Maoli Thursdays are FREE and OPEN to the public.