The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law finalized an agreement to continue the Aʻo Aku Aʻo Mai Initiative. The initiative was created to provide access to justice for Native Hawaiians through legal education and direct legal services on issues of importance to the Native Hawaiian community. OHA has committed $150,000 for Ka Huli Ao to hire a post-juris doctor fellow and offer a minimum of four legal clinics over the next two years.
Launched in 2011, this phase of the initiative aims to expand the base of knowledge and support on issues impacting OHA beneficiaries and the state’s natural resources, especially those in rural Neighbor Island communities. Inspired by Native Hawaiian tradition, Aʻo Aku Aʻo Mai reflects the fact that learning is a shared and symbiotic process that respects the transfer of knowledge both from community members to students and vice versa.
“We are honored to continue partnering with OHA in this important endeavor and we are thrilled to expand our reach to other legal issues that have an impact on Native Hawaiians, especially those in rural communities,” explained Ka Huli Ao Associate Professor and Environmental Law Clinic Director Kapua Sproat. “Through this Initiative, we hope to create a lasting legacy that will continue ā mau loa,” said Ka Huli Ao Associate Professor and Environmental Law Clinic Director Kapua Sproat.
For the full story, see the law school’s website.
—By Beverly Creamer
