HSBA Senior Counsel Division

About Us

The Senior Counsel Division is a bar initiative to serve and engage our members who are age 50 and older, which comprises half of our membership. The Hawaii State Bar Association first explored the idea of creating a Senior Counsel Division during its 2008 and 2009 bar strategic planning process. Thus, a planning committee was formed to develop a Senior Counsel Division (SCD). The division was established as a pilot project on April 23, 2009 upon the HSBA Board's approval of the SCD Bylaws, and recognized as a formal entity in October 2022 when it was added to the HSBA Constitution and Bylaws.

SCD President's Message
Scott Spallina 
(March 2024)

Aloha.

With St. Patrick’s Day upon us, I give you this Irish blessing:

May those who love us, love us
And those who don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts
And if he can’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles
So we will know them by their limping.

 
This past month, the Senior Counsel Division (SCD) has been blessed with many great opportunities to serve our community and have been fortunate to have done so with some excellent volunteers.

In February, SCD participated in the Windward Mall Senior Fair. This event was very well attended and allowed the community to learn about the SCD and the Hawaii State Bar Association in general and the services they provide. There were over 25 other organizations present to give resources and information to kupuna and those that care for them. Participating in events like this is a good reminder that the knowledge we have gained from our experiences as attorneys is very valuable and can truly help those lost in the quagmire of living in our society. Speaking of this, I would like to give a special shout out and thanks to Carrie Williams, who took time out of her busy schedule to help answer questions and give information to the many seniors who attended this event.

Another person who made the time to share his knowledge with us this past month was Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm. Prosecutor Alm spoke at our monthly Coffee Hour and informed the audience about the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office’s many accomplishments these past several years and what he hopes his office will achieve in the future. Among the topics he covered was his efforts to strengthen the elder abuse laws in Hawaii. He also presented his aggressive approach to handling drug houses and gambling rooms that are in our neighborhoods and are often complained about by those that are forced to reside on the same streets where these criminal activities have sprung up.  

Next month, the SCD is honored to host Tracey Wiltgen, the executive director of the Mediation Center of the Pacific (MCP). For over 44 years, MCP has helped those in our community in resolving conflicts in their lives. Whether it be negotiating the obstacles in a contested divorce with children, or working towards a compromise amongst co-workers, or trying to help a tenant avoid eviction by establishing better communication between them and their landlord, MCP has helped thousands through their tireless efforts and the willingness of the MANY volunteers who serve as mediators.

Lastly, speaking of service, it is not too late to still join SCD at the Hawaii Food Bank’s Senior Food Packing Project. There are a great many low income kupuna that rely on the generosity of programs like the Hawaii Food Bank and those who volunteer their time in making programs like these work. For more information please contact Gilbert Doles at [email protected].

Visit HSBA.org/CoffeeHourArchives to view previously recorded SCD Coffee Hours.


Schedule an appointment at bbh.org or call (808) 848-4770
Use code 3223 when you arrive for your appointment.

2024 SCD Board of Officers and Directors

PositionFull NameTerm StartTerm End
PresidentScott Michael Spallina1/1/2024 12:00:00 AM12/31/2024 12:00:00 AM
Vice PresidentIan Lorne Sandison1/1/2024 12:00:00 AM12/31/2024 12:00:00 AM
SecretaryScott A. Makuakane1/1/2024 12:00:00 AM12/31/2024 12:00:00 AM
TreasurerGregory L. Lui-Kwan1/1/2024 12:00:00 AM12/31/2024 12:00:00 AM
Director - OahuGilbert C. Doles1/1/2024 12:00:00 AM12/31/2025 12:00:00 AM
Director - OahuMichael J.Y. Wong1/1/2024 12:00:00 AM12/31/2025 12:00:00 AM
Director - Big IslandCharlene Y. Iboshi1/1/2024 12:00:00 AM12/31/2025 12:00:00 AM
Director - KauaiJonathan J. Chun1/1/2024 12:00:00 AM12/31/2025 12:00:00 AM
Director - OahuJean Malia Orque1/1/2023 12:00:00 AM12/31/2024 12:00:00 AM
Director - OahuHarvey M. Demetrakopoulos1/1/2023 12:00:00 AM12/31/2024 12:00:00 AM
Director - MauiDavid Malcolm Raatz, Jr.1/1/2024 12:00:00 AM12/31/2025 12:00:00 AM
Director - OahuSue Vo Hansen1/1/2023 12:00:00 AM12/31/2024 12:00:00 AM
Director - OahuDawn Malia Nekoba1/1/2024 12:00:00 AM12/31/2025 12:00:00 AM

 Senior Counsel Division Projects

How to Volunteer or Get Involved

We invite and encourage members to take an active role in Senior Counsel Division!