Hawaiʻi National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Team

The new members of the William S. Richardson School of Lawʻs Native American Moot Court Team have been selected. This year proved to be another grueling process for tryout judges, Professors Melody MacKenzie, Williamson Chang (advisor), and Carl Christensen. Each year a good number of students tryout for the team. Selecting the new team members was no easy task as numerous law students tried-out and were quite good in their advocacy skills. Tryouts were conducted over the course of two days earlier this month.

Pictured. Back row: *Mark Kaetsu, Chasid Sapolu, *Max Kopper, *David Kopper, Uilisone Tuʻa, *Keani Alapa, Jesse Smith. Front row: Captain Kaʻupena Soon, Lahela Hite, *Jeannin Russo, *Malia Gibson, *Sherilyn Tavares, and Scott Shishido.

* denotes newly admitted team member.

Our team participates annually in the National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Competition. This year the competition (in its 18th year) will be held in Vermillion, South Dakota, February 19-20, 2009. More information about the competition is available at www.usdnalsa.org.

Last year, the Richardson duo of Ann Otteman and Jesse Smith captured Second Place in last yearʻs overall category (Best Advocates) at the competition held in Boulder, Colorado. In the past five years Richardson teams have performed well in the competition. In the years 2007-2009, Richardson teams ascended to the final oral argument round of the competition. In 2005 and 2006, Richardson teams placed Second and Third respectively for Best Brief. (see the teamʻs track record below) Prior to these years, Richardson teams consistently performed well.

If you would like to help support the team financially, PLEASE CLICK HERE to make a tax-deductible online donation.


Year Award
1997 Best Oralist First Place
1998 Best Overall Team Second Place
1998 Best Brief Third Place
1999 Best Overall Team First Place
1999 Best Overall Team Third Place
1999 Best Brief Second Place
1999 Best Brief Third Place
1999 Best Oralist Third Place
2000 Best Overall Team First Place
2001 Best Overall Team First Place
2003 Best Oralist Second Place
2005 Best Brief Second Place
2006 Best Brief Third Place
2007 Best Advocates First Place (formerly known as Best Overall)
2007 Best Oralist Second Place
2008 Best Brief First Place
2008 Best Oralist First Place
2008 Best Advocates Third Place
2008 Best Advocates Second Place
2009 Best Advocates Second Place

Featuring Bill Meheula

Bill Meheula is a Honolulu attorney who grew up Mō‘ili‘ili and Kalihi Valley. Bill Meheula recently served as an attorney in the United States Supreme Court case, Hawaii v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Bill talks about the Obama administration and how that affects the future of the Native Hawaiian community and the "ceded" lands.



As part of our community outreach, for the past several weeks, we provided a series of video clips of law students (and a few lawyers) on our blog. These law students and lawyers shared their experiences either in law school or in the legal profession.

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

From Azusa, California to Manoa

Ann Kanoelehua Otteman a third year law student and a finalist in this year's National Native American Law Students Association's moot court competition talks about the need for Native Hawaiian attorneys and law students. Ann took Second Place with her partner Jesse Smith. CLICK HERE for Honolulu Advertiser article. Find out what Ann had to say in the 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.

From rural Kaua'i, to law school, to Earth Justice, and back to law school

In March 2007, Prof. Kapua Sproat was featured on the cover of Hawai‘i Business Magazine as among 25 People for the Next 25 Years; Hawai‘i's Bright People and Bright Future. Watch the video below to find out where Prof. Kapua Sproat is from, what she does in the legal profession, and what she says Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law does.

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 the state legislature to law school

This week we're featuring a young Troy Andrade. Before coming to law school, Troy worked at the Hawai&$8216i legislature. Below, Troy describes his desire to learn about legal issues and the relevance of those issues to Native Hawaiians. He has suggestions for aspiring law school applicants. Find out what he says by watching the 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.

Lahela Hite. Are Native Hawaiians under-represented at the law school?

Are native Hawaiians under-represented in the legal community? Find out what Native Hawaiian law student Lahela Hite says about that in the video below. Lahela is involved with the ‘Ahahui o Hawai‘i at the law school in addition to the school's award-winning Native American Moot Court team.



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 ethnic studies to law school, a discussion with Li'ula Nakama

Li‘ula Nakama sat down with us and shared what influenced her decision to come to law school and the value of a legal education. Watch the video below to see what she had to say.



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.

Another practicing attorney featured

Moses Kalei Nahonoapi‘ilani Haia III is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law and a staff attorney with the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation. In 2007, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin recognized Moses as among "10 Who Made A Difference." CLICK HERE to read the article.

Find out what Moses Haia says about the future of Native Hawaiian culture and the law by watching the 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.