Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 6, 1 June 2008 — 3 UH law school graduates specialize in Native Hawaiian law [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

3 UH law school graduates specialize in Native Hawaiian law

By Lisa Asatū Public lnfurmatiun Specialist With newly earned law degrees in band, Moanike 'ala Crowell, Derek Kauanoe and Ka'ano'i Walk are entering the world speeializing in Native Hawaiian law. The May graduates of the Universitv of Hawai'i

Riehardson Sehool of Law are the seeond group of students to earn the specialty. Professor Melody Kapihaloha MacKenzie helped start the specialty program as part of the Pacific-Asian Legal Studies certificate at the request of student Malina Koani-Guzman, who with Iocelyn M-Doane and Kalikollhau Hannahs graduated with the specialization in 2007. "(The specialty) indicates to future employers . . . that (the graduates) have shown . . . conunitment and dedication to the Native Hawaiian conununity and Native Hawaiian issues," said MacKenzie. The specialty in Native Hawaiian law will hopefully heeome a certificate program within a few years, said MacKenzie, who is also the director of the school's Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law. The center received a

$630,000 OHA grant in 2005 to support its work promoting education, scholarship and eommunity outreach in issues of law and justice for Native Hawaiians. "With Native Hawaiians looking toward self-determination and the iight to make their own choices ... I think law is a really good lens to look through to bring about change," said Crowell, a Kamehameha Schools graduate who is the first in her family to graduate with an advanced degree. She and Kauanoe participated in the school's Native American moot court team, whieh won four awards at a national competition this year. Kauanoe and partner Edward Hu took second plaee overall, and Crowell and Greg Schlais took the prize for best brief. Their brief on tribal membership and land-use issues, whieh will be published in the American

Ināian Law Review. Like Crowell and Kauanoe, graduate Ka'ano'i Walk isn't exactly sure what the future holds for him career-wise, but the former Kula Kaiapuni o Waiau student says that "My kuleana is to my people, my ancestors and this 'āina. Whatever I do, I will carry on the kuleana that I have to my lanauaae. to the wa'a and mv

culture. I know that this path feels pono and that my kūpuna are behind me 100 percent." Kauanoe, who wants to see more Native Hawaiians in the law field, started a program in 2006 with 'Ahahui O Hawai'i, the law school's Native Hawaiian student organization. Funded largely through an OHA grant, the Law School Admission Test preparation classes have helped to double the percentage of Native Hawaiian applicants admitted to the school in 2008 compared to 2003. The program offers several sessions eaeh year, Kauanoe said, and the group plans to expand the program to provide textbooks for required courses to first-year Native Hawaiian law students. Forinfonnation, www2.hawaii. edu/~ahahui, or for the Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, visit www.hawaii.edu/law and eliek on Special Programs. E3

HO'ONA' AUAO ■ EDUCAĪION

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Derek Kauanoe and AAoanike'ala Crowell earned Iūw degrees and specialties in Native Hawaiian law from the University of Hawai'i Richardson School of Lūw. - Photo: LisaAsato