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1950 - 2020
A Legacy of Service in the Pursuit of Fairness and Justice
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"Our work is all about our community. Serving our people, especially during the toughest of times, is what brings out our humanity. We are grateful to have the trust of the people we serve, and are here for those in need."
Legal Aid's outreach specialist John Kaaihue with Fred
under the Nimitz overpass on Oahu.
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Executive Director
The COVID-19 pandemic has tested all of us as we all react to a crisis in different ways. From initial feelings of fear and uncertainty we moved quickly and seamlessly as an organization to action.
In the last month, Legal Aid staff have produced Q & As, legal information sheets, infographics, and videos to help the public navigate through the Covid-19 pandemic. These materials cover health, housing, employment, food, family and children, financial assistance, immigration, seniors and the courts. Mindful of the on-going need for language access, most materials are translated into Chuukese and Marshallese and we are working to translate materials into other languages as well. These materials can be found on our website at:
www.legalaidhawaii.org.
Staff have also taken to the airwaves in on-air interviews with news and radio stations and been featured in publications across the state.
Eviction and unemployment calls continue to increase. Landlords are locking out tenants in violation of the law and in response we are providing representation and revamped our court forms on illegal lockouts and illegal utility shutoffs. We have created step-by-step videos to assist in applying for unemployment and are also advocating for stronger language access to the unemployment system. We have also trained many of our outreach staff to assist with unemployment applications where the digital divide is limiting access.
Our homeless outreach staff continue to be in the community, bringing services to those most in need. Staff with our medical legal partnerships with Waimanalo Health Center and West Hawai'i Community Health Center are also on site and available via telephone appointment to help bridge the gap with legal services to help address social determinants of health. Recently, we began working to re-open Self-Help Centers and Access to Justice Rooms virtually with pro bono attorneys and the courts.
Our work over the last month is a testament to the amazing and dedicated staff who work at Legal Aid. In the midst of this crisis, our services are even more critical to the safety net of our community. As an organization, we touch almost every aspect of a person's life when they are in crisis and are a resource to help remove barriers, to advocate and to ensure that the most vulnerable in our community have their basic needs met.
Malama pono,
-
M. Nalani Fujimori Kaina
Executive Director
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#LegalAidhelps
"What I want people to know about Legal Aid is that they restored my faith in our legal system."
Before I came to Legal Aid, I was frustrated and angry because I had taken my minivan to a dealership's service department with specific instructions on what to repair. After a month I was finally called to pick it up. Upon arrival I was shocked when I discovered that despite my instructions, they had repaired an item which was not being covered by my service contract. Furthermore, the employee stated that he would not release my vehicle to me unless I paid $2,000 for the extra repairs. I refused and they held my van for another four months.
Legal Aid helped me by contacting the dealership on my behalf to help get my van back. I am almost 70 years old and being without my van caused me great inconvenience, anguish and physical hardship. Because I live in a semi-rural area the bus was not always available. I often had to walk between 1-3 miles from the transit center because I chose to attend an evening church activity in town or spent time with my grand-babies.
Due to Legal Aid's help, I was able to get my van back. The attorney explained my personal situation to the dealership's representative along with a keen knowledge and understanding of the State Auto Repair Laws. My attorney advised me of my rights and negotiated a settlement for the release of my vehicle and I did not have to pay a cent for the unauthorized repairs.
What I want people to know about Legal Aid is that they restored my faith in our legal system. After being swindled out of my home of 46 years, I believed that justice was nothing but a good scrabble word. However, my Legal Aid attorney treated me with respect and most of all, she really listened to what I had to say. She researched the pertinent laws and advocated for me against the representative of a large corporation. She even complimented me for doing my homework and learning about the Auto Repair and Fair Trade laws etc. on my own. Unlike my former experience with the legal system, my Legal Aid Attorney Joni Domingues saw to it that "Justice did prevail!"
Mahalo Joni and Legal Aid from the bottom of my heart.
-Elizabeth, 69 received help through the Kupuna Legal Aid Services project which provides legal assistance for seniors age 60 and over.
Housing Issues During COVID-19
Fair Housing Issues During COVID-19
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Justice for Disaster Relief
During this COVID-19 crisis, the Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i is fighting to continue Building a Just Society. You can help make a difference today.
Legal Aid attorney Janet Kelly answers questions as part of the outreach team to help people experiencing homelessness.
We are working tirelessly to protect the rights of vulnerable clients and communities in Hawaii. But our fight is just beginning.
Today, you can help us as we take a stand for all those who need disaster relief. Your gift during this crisis means more than ever. Join us as we provide Justice for Disaster Relief throughout Hawaii.
Make a
Gift Online
or you can make a tax-deductible gift by sending your check to the address:
Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i
Diana Y. Kim
Director of External Relations
924 Bethel Street
Honolulu, Hawai`i 96813
(808) 536-4302
diana.kim@legalaidhawaii.org
Checks should be written out to the "Legal Aid Society of Hawaii."
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70th Anniversary (1950 - 2020)
As part of its year long 70th Anniversary activities, Legal Aid will share 70 tidbits about its history throughout the year. Thank you to the longest continuously serving Legal Aid Board Member (1999-2020) Naomi Fujimoto for providing the following tidbits.
Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald (left), Legal Aid's Executive Director M. Nalani Fujimori Kaina (center), and former State Librarian Richard Burns (right) introduced the Hawaii Self-Help Interactive Forms project in 2014.
11. Legal Aid, the Hawaii State Bar Association and the Judiciary worked together to establish workstations at the self-help centers across the state to provide public access to the Hawaii Self-Help Interactive Forms in December of 2013. The online interface and legal forms assist self-represented litigants by providing a series of questions or interviews using plain language and filling in the legal forms with the answers. In August of 2014, the Hawaii State Library System partnered in and expanded this endeavor by allowing library patrons to access the forms on computers at the public libraries.
12. The Hawaii Immigrant Justice Center, formerly known as Na Loio, became a division of Legal Aid. It is currently known as the Hawaii Immigrant Justice Center at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.
13. In 1995, Legal Aid established a statewide legal hotline offering free and immediate legal advice and/or referrals to income eligible callers. The hotline has served as a model for many Legal Aid offices nationwide.
14. In 2017, Legal Aid launched the Hawaii Legal Services Portal to direct people to the appropriate resource based on their legal needs by providing a central location for self-represented litigants to access legal information from various organizations.
15. In 2016, Legal Aid launched a series of self-help legal information videos on its website and YouTube channel. The videos include topics on: Landlord-Tenant Basics, Eviction, Divorce, Adoption, Court Resources, and many more. A number of the videos are available in Marshallese, Chuukese, and Ilocano.
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Serving the Community
Kona Court Self-Help Center to Provide Legal Help to West Hawaii Community
The Kona Court Self-Help Center will provide legal help to the West Hawaii community on a pilot basis on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteer attorneys from the West Hawaii Bar Association will provide limited legal information by telephone in areas such as landlord-tenant, family, and other district court matters. Please call 808-437-7557. Your call will be answered by an AmeriCorps Advocate who will connect you with the attorney.
Opened in 2013, the Kona Court Self-Help Center is a collaborative effort of the Judiciary, the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, the Hawaii State Bar Association, the West Hawaii Bar Association, AmeriCorps, and the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii to increase access to justice for self-represented litigants.
Hawaii Public Radio: Legal rights during the pandemic
Tatjana Johnson, managing attorney for Legal Aid's Hawaii Immigrant Justice Center was on
Hawaii Public Radio's "The Conversation" to discuss the legal resources available to help the public better understand their rights during this pandemic.
Legal Aid Society Posts COVID-19 Guide On Understanding Rights
By Chad Blair
April 10, 2020
Civil Beat
Subjects include landlord-tenant law, public benefits and family law.
The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii on Friday announced that it has prepared online resources, legal court forms and "other critical legal information" to help the public understand their rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It can be accessed through the group's website and covers subject areas such as landlord-tenant law, public benefits and family law, according to a press release.
A screen shot from Legal Aid Society of Hawaii's website this month.
"With much of our community going through this challenging time, ensuring that people can access critical legal help is more important now than ever," said executive director M. Nalani Fujimori Kaina.
She continued: "Many will have questions about how this impacts their families, their housing, and their livelihoods. We may all feel vulnerable right now and Legal Aid will continue to do its best to provide some stability through our legal system."
All Legal Aid online resources are free to the public and available in Chuukese and Marshallese.
The organization is a non-profit, public interest law firm "dedicated to increasing access to justice for the state's most vulnerable and disadvantaged people."
Legal Aid Continues Outreach Services
Legal Aid's outreach specialist John Kaaihue with Tim.
Outreach Specialist Emil Romolor at the Punawai Rest Stop on Oahu.
As Job Losses Mount, Affordable Health Coverage Is Available On Healthcare.Gov
Individuals who do not qualify for Med-Quest insurance should enroll in comprehensive, affordable coverage on HealthCare.gov before time runs out.
With unprecedented unemployment during this public health and economic crisis, many have lost their job-based health insurance and applied for health insurance with Med-QUEST. If people do not qualify for Med-QUEST insurance, they can apply for federal marketplace insurance through Healthcare.gov, but they must act quickly.
The federal marketplace offers health insurance and subsidies for premiums and cost-shares based on people's projected income. Unlike Med-QUEST insurance, enrollees usually pay some out-of-pocket costs for the health coverage.
Individuals who lose their job-based coverage qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) on HealthCare.gov. This opens up a 60-day window to enroll in coverage, often with financial assistance that reduces monthly costs. If they miss the chance to enroll, they may be unable to enroll in coverage on HealthCare.gov until November 1, 2020, for coverage beginning in 2021.
Individuals who didn't have insurance through their employer and are currently uninsured may still be able to enroll in coverage if they experience a life event that qualifies them for an SEP, such as getting married or having a baby. Applicants can go to www.HealthCare.gov/screener to find out if they qualify for an SEP.
Consumers enrolling in a plan on HealthCare.gov are guaranteed to receive comprehensive coverage, with no pre-existing condition exclusions or markups. HealthCare.gov plans are required to cover essential health benefits such as prescription drugs, lab services, or hospitalization. Testing and treatment of COVID-19 are considered essential health benefits and are covered by all HealthCare.gov plans, and testing is covered with no cost sharing.
Consumers should avoid insurance plans offered outside of HealthCare.gov that advertise products that do not comply with Affordable Care Act regulations. These products are available due to loosened regulations and pose financial risks to consumers. Such products may deny coverage to consumers with pre-existing conditions, charge consumers more based on their gender, reject claims altogether for health care services related to a pre-existing condition, and impose annual coverage limits.
The health insurance landscape can be confusing, but free, local help is available. For help navigating the enrollment process, please visit www.healthcare.gov or call Healthcare.gov at 1-800-318-2596 or the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii at 808-536-4302, option 2.
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Legal Aid Announcements
Legal Aid attorney Michelle Moorhead named to Pacific Business News 40 Under 40
Legal Aid's Michelle Moorhead, managing attorney for the Honolulu Family Unit was named to the distinguished
Pacific Business News 40 Under 40 list. In addition to leading Legal Aid's Family Law unit, Michelle is also a lecturer at the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law.
"Michelle K. Moorhead is passionate about empowering families and survivors of domestic violence, abuse, and neglect. She is the Managing Attorney of the Family Law Division of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi. She is also the supervisor of Legal Aid's Oahu Guardian Ad Litem Program, where Legal Aid employees are court-appointed to advocate on behalf of the best interests of foster youth. Prior to joining Legal Aid in 2017, she worked in private practice with the Honorable Mei Nakamoto (ret.) and served as an extern for Civil Chief Judge R. Mark Browning as the 2012 recipient of the James K. Hoenig Judicial Clerkship Scholarship for the Promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Ms. Moorhead is recognized by her peers due to her leadership and commitment to public service. Ms. Moorhead currently serves as the elected 2020 Chair of the Family Law Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association. She is the first non-profit attorney to serve in that role. Ms. Moorhead also volunteers her time as a divorce mediator at the Mediation Center of the Pacific, an Associate Member of the Honorable James S. Burns Aloha Chapter of the American Inns of Court, a CAAP Arbitrator, and through membership in various Access to Justice Commission and Hawaiʻi State Bar Association Committees. She is also the founder and President
Emerita of the Law School's Students for Public Outreach and Civic Education ("SPOCE")." -
University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law
Welcome Legal Aid's New Director of External Relations
Legal Aid welcomes its new Director of External Relations, Diana Kim. Diana comes with significant development and charitable planned giving experience from the University of Hawaii Foundation, where she was the Director of Estate and Gift Planning. She received her law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law and her Master's in Public Health (MPH) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Diana will direct Legal Aid's charitable giving and communication strategies and provide oversight for its pro bono and volunteer programs.
Legal Aid Staff Positions Available
The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, a non-profit law firm, endeavors to provide civil legal services throughout the State of Hawaii to those most in need. Our mission is to address critical legal needs through high quality legal advocacy, outreach and education in the pursuit of fairness and justice. Our team of dedicated advocates come to work every day with a purposeful desire to help and serve our community.
Our organization embraces work life balance by offering our team a structured work week designed to achieve work excellence and ample time off to recharge, refresh and pursue individual passions. We offer an extremely generous benefit package which includes 21 days of vacation, 12 days of sick leave and 14 holidays a year. We are also proud to be the industry leader in offering 8 weeks of fully paid parental leave for qualified employees.
If working in a meaningful and rewarding environment is what you're searching for, and if you have been desiring work life balance, please review the positions and requirements below by visiting www.legalaidhawaii.org.
To apply for a position: Please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to jobs@legalaidhawaii.org. The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No telephone calls please.
- Family Law Attorney - Honolulu
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If you need legal help, please call
808-536-4302 (Oahu) or 1-800-499-4302 (Neighbor Islands)
Monday - Friday:
9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m
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