Hear From the HSBA President

Dread Not

Twenty years ago, I was serving on a Coast Guard cutter on patrol in the Caribbean Sea. A hurricane was bearing down on our ship, and the Navy Meteorologists had this advice for us: hide behind Hispaniola.

At the 2024 HSBA pau hana fundraiser, a retired judge told me, you must be so excited for your Bar President year. I replied, Judge, I am filled with dread. And I couldn’t hide behind Hispaniola.

Most bar presidents have big agendas like attorney mental health or even the creation of a mandatory bar. Me, I just wanted our organization to be stable as we navigated the Executive Director transition following the death of Pat Mau-Shimizu. I wanted to serve our members. To do what we do in a cost-efficient manner. To weather the storm facing our industry and judiciary.

Well, I didn’t need Hispaniola. Supported by a phenomenal Executive Director, loyal and diligent staff, an amazing Executive and Finance Committee and buoyed by an engaged Board of Directors, we weathered my anticipated storm.

First, the good. The HSBA is financially and operationally sound. We have a strategic plan and are advancing towards its goals. Our committees, sections, and divisions are engaged and generating important and rewarding engagement, networking, and professional development events. Our Publications Committee has continued their production of our amazing Bar Journal. Led by the Young Lawyers Division, we do significant amounts of community outreach and pro bono work.

Second, our comprehensive upgrade of our member database and integrated website rollout has progressed. We have renewed about 2000 members. Thank you for your patience and feedback. It isn’t perfect yet, but it is better every day.

Despite our achievements, there are challenges. Judicial applicant numbers are down, and the retirement multiplier for judges has been reduced, adding to our recruiting challenges. Hawaii is considering relaxed licensure requirements for paternity and, more recently, criminal cases. Mainland firms are encroaching on our market, increasing external pressures on both the HSBA and the judiciary.

Our membership continues to decline as Baby Boomers retire, and the decline is likely to result in a greater need for revenue. While we have maintained fixed bar dues since 2009, I do expect that an increase will be necessary next year to address the decreased revenue from our decreased membership.

As to the legal industry, I gave speeches at two new attorney admission ceremonies and I so wish everyone could see the sparkle in the eyes of these new attorneys. Full of hope and desire to be…..a lawyer.

The law matters and so do the lawyers who serve our community.
Thank you and Happy Holidays, Mark M.