Supreme Court "Ceded" lands case decision

Third year law student, Nick Lee organized a panel to discuss the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in State of Hawai‘i v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The event is sponsored by ‘Ahahui o Hawai‘i.The panelist are: OHA Trustee (and former Judge) Boyd Mossman, attorney Bill Meheula and attorney and law professor Jon Van Dyke.

The panel discussion is today at approximately 12:45pm

3rd year law students featured today.

Nāpali Souza is from Kailua, O‘ahu and currently lives in Palolo. In the video clip below, Nāpali briefly talks about empowering the Native Hawaiian community through legal education. Find out what he says by watching the video.



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.

Additional information on Ka Huli Ao

This post is to complement (not compliment) an article written in the May edition of Ho‘oulu Lāhui Aloha.

The Director of Ka Huli Ao is Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie. CLICK HERE for Prof. MacKenzie's bio.

Other faculty members include:

• Kapua Sproat; Assistant Professor ofLaw


• Carl C. Christensen; Visiting Assistant Professor of Law


• Susan K. Serrano; Director of Educational Development

Post Juris-Doctorate Fellows are:

• Jocelyn M-Doane; Research Fellow


• Keith Johnston; Digital Archives Fellow


• Sunny Greer; Community Outreach Fellow


• Derek Kauanoe; Community Outreach Fellow


• Ka‘ano‘i Walk; Research Fellow

Law School Admission Test Preparation Program

Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, (and a soon-to-be-named co-sponsor) is offering Law School Admission Test (LSAT) Preparation classes for aspiring law school applicants who have a demonstrated interest in:

• Native Hawaiian Rights,


• Native Hawaiian Law, or


• Improving the conditions of Native Hawaiians.

Click here for an application. Applications are DUE on Friday, May 15, 2009. This means that applications should be postmarked no later than Thursday, May 14, 2009. Applications can be mailed to:

          William S. Richardson School of Law
          Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law
          ATTN: LSAT Prep Program
          2515 Dole Street, Suite 207
          Honolulu, HI 96822

Part of the application process requires an LSAT diagnostic test. The LSAT diagnostic test is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2009, at the the William S. Richardson School of Law, 2515 Dole Street in Classroom 1. The diagnostic test will begin at 9am.

This summer's classes will prepare accepted applicants for the September 26, 2009, actual Law School Admission Test administered by the Law School Admission Council. Specific LSAT Preparation class dates will be provided at a later time. Generally, classes are on Monday evenings for one class group, Tuesday evenings for a different class group, and on Saturdays. Evening classes are from 6pm until 9pm. Saturday classes are from 9am until 12 noon. There is a nominal program fee; more information about the fee can be found at http://tr.im/HUILSATfee

Questions can be sent to nhlawctr@hawaii.edu In the subject heading type the following: "ATTN: Community Outreach - LSAT Prep"

Center for Island Climate Adaptation and Policy - Presentation

The Center for Island Climate Adaptation and Policy at the William S. Richardson School of Law Presents:

Helping Vulnerable Communities Adapt to Climate Change

Featuring Maxine Burkett RECORDED LIVE!



The video quality improves when Prof. Burkett speaks, but generally the lighting is dim because of the power point presentations.

Malia from Maui

This week we feature, Malia Gibson from the island of Maui. Malia graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Hawaiian Studies from the Kamakakūolani Center for Hawaiian Studies. Malia worked at the Hawai‘i legislature for a while and later applied to and enrolled in law school. Watch the video below to hear what Malia's manaāo is on going to law school and what she recommends to potential law school applicants.



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.

From Hawai'i island.

This week, we're featuring someone from Kā‘ū. The last name will definitely sound familiar to many. At any rate, check out the video below to find out what this country boy has to say and what he wants to be for his community.




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.

Climate Adaptation & Policy

The Center for Island Climate Adaptation and Policy at the William S. Richardson School of Law Presents:

Helping Vulnerable Communities Adapt to Climate Change

Featuring
MAXINE BURKETT
Director and Associate Professor of Law

Monday, April 20, 2009, 5:30 p.m.

Reception Immediately Following

Law School, Classroom 2
2515 Dole Street

Maxine Burkett is an Associate Professor of Law at the Law School and serves as the inaugural Director of the Center for Island Climate Adaptation and Policy (ICAP). Professor Burkett attended Williams College and Exeter College, Oxford University, and received her law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Burkett’s courses include Torts, Climate Change Law and Policy, Environmental Law, Race and American Law, and International Development. She has written in the area of Race, Reparations, and Environmental Justice. Currently, her work focuses on “Climate Justice,” writing on the disparate impact of climate change on poor and of-color communities and the United States’ ethical and legal obligation to these communities nationally and internationally. She has presented her research on Climate Justice throughout the United States, West Africa, and the Caribbean. As the Director of ICAP, she leads projects to address climate change law, policy, and planning for island communities in Hawai‘i, the Pacific region, and beyond.

The Center for Island Climate Adaptation and Policy facilitates a sustainable, climate-conscious future for Hawai‘i, the Pacific, and global island communities through innovative research and real-world solutions to island decision-makers in the public and private sectors. ICAP is an interdisciplinary program among the Law School’s Environmental Law Program, Sea Grant, the College of Social Sciences, the Hawai‘inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, and the School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology. This lecture is co-sponsored by the Law School’s Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

Unable to attend the event? Ka Huli Ao expects to live-stream the event here on our website.

Ann and Jesse share their thoughts on Fed Bar

Ann Otteman, "The Fed Bar conference on Federal Indian law was an amazing experience that I would encourage all students interested in indigenous rights to attend. Judges, attorneys and fellow law students all gathered to discuss the important impacts of Federal law and courts on the nation's indigenous populations. One of the most interesting things that I learned was that the eyes of the nations are on Hawaii as a model for native rights. It was a great experience I plan on repeating."

Jesse Smith, "The 2009 Fed Bar Conference and NALSA meeting provided our team members the opportunity to experience first hand and learn about the important issues facing Indian Country today. We were able to network with and make friends with other advocates in the field and those most affected by changes in the law. Unlike any other field of law, attending such a conference as Fed Bar entails the law coming to life right before your eyes as you are thrown into the sea of humanity for which the law is supposed to serve. If nothing else, such an experience teaches us that the law is much more than what is written in codes and case books, and that even here in Hawaii we have friends across the country who empathize with and support our cause."

After the conference ended, the Hawai'i group went to Santa Fe town where this photo was taken.


Also after the conference ended, the Hawai'i group shared a meal with a Navajo lawyer and a Washington D.C. attorney.

Chasid and Ka'upenaikaika talk about the Fed Bar Conference

Second year law students, Chasid Sapolu and Ka‘upena Soon shared their thoughts regarding their experience at the Federal Bar Association's 34th Annual Indian Law Conference.


Chasid Sapolu, "The 2009 Fed Bar conference was a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet and interact with numerous individuals from the Indian law community and to recognize the actual expanse of this community throughout the many regions of this country. As attendees, we were exposed to the significant issues that are currently at the front of this community’s focus. We also met some of the current and future leaders in this community, and discussed the issues that Native Hawaiians were experiencing here in Hawai‘i. Overall, my experience at this year's Bar conference was amazing, I would definitely recommend any individual who is interested in Native issues to attend in the coming years."

Ka‘upena Soon, "The Fed Bar conference was really enjoyable. I got a chance to meet a lot of people involved with Native American law. Attending the plenary sessions were pretty informative. The gaming issues were particularly interesting, especially since the Salazar decision just came out and we were able to hear various viewpoints on the case. The conference provides an environment that helps law students, professors, and attorneys who share similar viewpoints to discuss hot legal topics makes for a great networking event. I would definitely recommend attending this event in the future. It provides a good opportunity to really get to know a lot of people in Federal Indian law. The feel is completely different from moot court, in that you can really enjoy yourself and enjoy others."

After the conference ended, the Hawai‘i visitors went to Santa Fe town, 2-3 blocks from their motel rooms.

Five law students and 1 alumnus go on a voyage

For the first time in more than three decades, the Federal Bar Association (“FBA”) held its annual Indian law conference on an Indian reservation this year at the Buffalo Thunder on the Pojoaque Pueblo Reservation in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Concurrent with this conference was the National Native American Law Students Association’s annual meeting. Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law made it possible for five William S. Richardson School of Law students to attend the conference and meeting. You can read an on the spot blog of the conference by CLICKING HERE.

The five law students are: Ann Otteman (3L), Chris Santos (3L), Chasid Sapolu (2L), Jesse Smith (2L), and Ka’upenaikaika Soon (2L). These students are members of the 2008-09 WSRSL Native American Moot Court team and were accompanied by, Ka Huli Ao Post-JD Fellow and 2008 WSRSL alumnus, Derek Kauanoe.

From L to R, Ann Otteman, Chris Santos, Chasid Sapolu, Jesse Smith, and Ka‘upenaikaika Soon, and Derek Kauanoe pose here for a photo during the Thursday luncheon between conference sessions

The conference and meeting proved to be both an informative event covering issues in “Indian country” as well as an outstanding networking opportunity. The five students were introduced to a number of key people who also recognized their strong and impressive advocacy skills through moot court. A few of the people they met include:

• Patty Ferguson Bohnee, President-elect of the National Native American Bar Association and Director of the Indian Legal Clinic at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law,


• Nova Wilson, a 2008 graduate of the Michigan State University School of Law, now working in Washington D.C. at the National Congress of American Indians,


• Jennier “Gigi” Modrich who works at Washington D.C. based law firm Holland & Knight. Gigi is a 2008 graduate of the Cornell School of Law,


• Mary Modrich-Alvarado, a 2008 graduate of the ASU School of Law and current lawyer with the Navajo Nation,


• Paul Spruhan, a former clerk to the Navajo Nation Supreme Court but now working for the Navajo Nation Department of Justice,


• Ethel Branch, a 2008 graduate of Harvard Law School a tribal attorney working for Orrick,


• Summer Monteau, a 2008 graduate of the ASU school of law, and an attorney with the law firm of Luebben Johnson & Barnhouse of which the Pele Defense Fund was a client,


• Ezekiel Fletcher, an attorney with Rosette & Associates,


• Andrew Adams, general counsel for the St. Croix Band of of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.


• Lorinda Mall, a Punahou School graduate who also graduated from from the University of Arizona with an L.L.M. and currently pursuing a Juridical Science Doctorate degree while working for Board of Land Management in Washington D.C.

Our Richardson students also met a number of other students from law schools across the United States. Some of these other law students include:

• Naomi Bebo from the University of California Law Angeles School of Law,


• Burton Warrington from the University of Kansas


• Joshua Clause, incoming National Native American Law Students Association President, from the University of Michigan school of law


• Marilyn Phelps, from UCLA,


• Nicole Sieminski from UCLA,


• Aurora Lehr a 3L from the University of Washington,


• Nikki Borchardt a 3L from ASU,


• Jeremiah Swett from Cornell University,


• Jody Tallbear from Hamline University

The conference provided eight plenary sessions that covered: environmentalism on the reservation, tribal gaming, Supreme Court cases affecting Indian law, tribal economic development, renewable energy, genetically modified organism and food supplies. Hawaii issues and cases were briefly mentioned that included GMO kalo, Hawaii v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Rice v. Cayetano.

Next year’s Federal Bar Association’s Indian Law Conference will be held April 7 - 9, 2010, at Buffalo Thunder. To find out what second year law students Chasid Sapolu and Ka‘upena Soon think about their time at the conference, go to http://tr.im/chaskau

No law student this week.

Unlike the past 3 weeks, we are not featuring a law student. This week, we are featuring practicing attorney and law professor Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie. Professor MacKenzie is also the Director of Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law and she was also in the first graduating class of the William S. Richardson School of Law. Prof. MacKenzie is also the chief editor of the Native Hawaiian Rights Handbook. Watch the video below to learn more about what Prof. MacKenzie has to say about law school and the legal profession.



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.

Native Court in Hawai‘i

Today at 12:45 pm we will be live-streaming, "AN ALTER-NATIVE COURT FOR HAWAI‘I: Exploring the Needs and Possibilities." You can watch it on the video player below.


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.