This program is a recording of the Live Webcast Seminar held on April 29, 2026.

If you attended the live webcast and received credit, then you cannot claim credit for watching this recorded program.

Summary: 

This is the second CLE in the HSBA’s Disaster Legal Response series, which will overview the FEMA process, including eligibility for disaster related damage assistance, common procedures, and appeals. Additionally, this CLE will cover steps in obtaining vital documents (civil legal documents) post disaster.

Panelists:

Reiko Kato

Reiko Kato, Esq. is a Staff Attorney at the Hawaii Immigrant Justice Center at Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. She currently serves as an Equal Justice Works Disaster Resilience Program Fellow, where she focuses on providing disaster relief legal services to immigrants affected by the 2023 Maui Wildfires. Her practice encompasses a broad range of immigration and legal matters, including disaster-related document replacement for naturalization/citizenship certificates, permanent resident cards, and I-94s; U nonimmigrant status and VAWA self-petitions for crime victims and DV survivors.

Being a native of Japan, she earned her first law degree at Hokkaido University before furthering her legal career in the U.S.

David Kopper

David Kauila Kopper is the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi’s oldest and largest non-profit law firm, whose mission is to address critical legal needs in the pursuit of fairness and justice. Dedicated to finding collaborative solutions to meet the legal needs of his community, Kopper supports LASH’s over 100 advocates and mission staff who serve Hawaiʻi’s most vulnerable populations across 11 offices statewide.

Following the 2023 Maui Wildfires, Kopper and LASH were active in collaborating with local and national partners to provide legal services, education and information to those impacted by the fires. Originally from Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island,

Kopper is a recent Omidyar Fellow (Cohort IX).

Duration: approximately 1 hour

Credit: This seminar qualifies for 1 CLE Credit. NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN FOR ONLINE SEMINARS.   

This seminar will be available in your classroom to view for 1 year from the date of purchase OR until April 29, 2028, whichever comes sooner.    

ADA Accommodation: In Accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you require accommodation for a disability, please contact us by email at cle@hsba.org; or by phone at 537-1868 and ask for the CLE Department before purchasing the program.   

Questions? Please contact HSBA CLE Department at 537-1868 or CLE@hsba.org.