News from the ‘Ahahui O Hawai‘i Law Student Organization
by Derek Kauanoe 3L 

This past spring, the members of ‘Ahahui O Hawai‘i (“Hui”) elected new alaka‘i (student leaders) for the law school’s oldest student organization.  Outgoing alaka‘i include 2007 graduates Laura Edmunds and Jocelyn Macadangdang-Doane in addition to 3L Ka‘ano‘i Walk. The newly elected alaka‘i are Sunny Greer (2L), Malama Minn (2L) and Kalei Rapoza (3L). The returning alaka‘i is Derek Kauanoe.

The Hui is currently planning for another round of Law School Admissions Test (“LSAT”) Preparation courses. These courses are made possible by funding from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Native Hawaiians interested in applying to law school should visit the Hui’s website at http://www2.hawaii.edu/~ahahui. 

In the spring of 2006, the Hui embarked on a recruitment program by offering LSAT Preparation classes to Native Hawaiians interested in pursuing a legal education. The LSAT is a standardized test, which is required to apply for law school and heavily considered in evaluating any application. LSAT preparation courses are offered in some areas, but can be very expensive. The Hui provided a series of LSAT preparation classes at no cost to participants. 

The table below provides the number of Native Hawaiian applicants to the Richardson School of Law in proportion to the number of Native Hawaiians accepted over a span of five years.

Year of admission

No# of applicants

No# admitted

2003

32

8

2004

51

15

2005

46

14

2006

37

15

2007

45

22

As detailed above, there was a significant increase in the number of Native Hawaiians admitted between 2003 and 2004. That can be attributed to the fact that in 2004, there was almost twice the number of applicants as compared to 2003. This year, however, we do not see that same increase in the number of Native Hawaiian applicants, but there is still a significant surge in the number of Native Hawaiians admitted. What we know is different is that in 2006 we began offering LSAT Preparation classes to Native Hawaiians and that several of our program participants were accepted here at the William S. Richardson School of Law.  We believe that the LSAT Preparation classes are making a difference and encourage all Native Hawaiians who are considering applying to law school to go to the Hui website to get more information about these classes.

The Hui also announces this upcoming event:

Saturday, September 9th at 9:00 a.m., join the Hui and the Environmental Law Society for a Huaka‘i (trip) to Kaniakapūpū (Kamehameha III’s summer home in Nu‘uanu).  Save the second Sunday of every month for our continuing Huaka‘i around O‘ahu. Contact Malama Minn at malama55@yahoo.com for more information.