• Volunteer

    The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation has a need for volunteers from time to time. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Moses Haia, Executive Director.

  • Pro Bono

    Attorneys can fulfill their pro bono requirements by assisting with NHLC’s cases in any capacity.

    The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation provides legal representation to individuals who want to amend their birth certificates to reflect their Native Hawaiian ancestry. These amendments are necessary to establish eligibility for DHHL awards or other Hawaiian programs.

    NHLC seeks attorneys who are willing to prosecute declaratory relief actions on behalf of these individuals. These actions seek to (1) obtain a paternity order that would establish Native Hawaiian ancestry and (2) to obtain a court order directing the Department of Health to amend the birth certificate in conformance with the paternity order. These cases are typically resolved on summary judgment.

    NHLC will provide an expert who can prepare the genealogy needed to establish paternity. NHLC will also provide exemplars and technical assistance throughout the case. A DNA test is sometimes necessary to successfully establish paternity.

    Attorneys can benefit from taking these cases in the following ways:

    1. junior associates can get experience and training managing a case, preparing and arguing a motion for summary judgment and working with experts;
    2. build good will in the community;
    3. you will satisfy Rule 6.1 of Hawaii Rules of Prof. Conduct.

    If you are interested in these cases or any other pro bono opportunities at NHLC, please contact Moses Haia, Executive Director.

    Rule 6.1. PRO BONO SERVICE.

    A lawyer should aspire to provide at least fifty hours of pro bono services per year. In fulfilling this responsibility, the lawyer should:

    1. provide at least twenty-five hours of legal services without fee or expectation of fee to:

      1. persons of limited means or
      2. charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational organizations in matters which are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means; and

    2. provide any additional services through:

      1. delivery of legal services at no fee or substantially reduced fee to individuals, groups or organizations seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights, or charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational organizations in matters in furtherance of their organizational purposes, where the payment of standard legal fees would significantly deplete the organization's economic resources or would be otherwise inappropriate;
      2. delivery of legal services at a substantially reduced fee to persons of limited means; or
      3. participation in activities for improving the law, the legal system or the legal profession.

    In addition, a lawyer should voluntarily contribute financial support to organizations that provide legal services to persons of limited means. Where, in a given year, the lawyer experiences personal or employment circumstances that make it unduly difficult or impossible to provide services which qualify as pro bono activity, the lawyer may substitute such a financial contribution for direct pro bono legal services.

  • Advocate

    NHLC depends on you making your voice heard on legislation and administrative actions that impact Native Hawaiian rights. If you would like to receive action alerts, please fill out the form below.