Hear From the HSBA President

This month I am humbled to begin my term as President of the Hawaii State Bar Association. This is an ideal time to reflect on our shared accomplishments and to look ahead with intention. First, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Mark M. Murakami for his steady and thoughtful leadership during this past year. As President-Elect, I observed the countless hours he put in for the HSBA, and marveled at the calm resolve he showed during the ups and downs of his tenure. Our Executive Director, Cathy Betts, and her Assistant Executive Director, Iris Ito, each have guided our board and staff in the past, and I know they will do the same for me this year.

In my January article for the Hawaii Bar Journal, I reflected on the spirit of volunteerism that both defines our profession and dictates that we each try to do just a little bit more. Across the state, HSBA members use their skills and dedicate their time—through pro bono work, service on committees, mentorship, and engagement in community events to uplift our profession. These efforts are core to who we are and strengthen the bond between lawyers and the communities we serve.

This year is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We must not lose sight of what our founders hoped to achieve. This year the HSBA intends to partner with other community organizations to celebrate this milestone and to strengthen our resolve towards the principles set forth in this great document and the laws, both statutory and common, that have come from it.

One of my goals as president is to ensure that the voices and perspectives within our diverse membership are heard and highlighted. In addition, the HSBA’s strategic plan requires that we reach out to the Neighbor Island Bar Associations and the Specialty Bars, as well as to work closely with the Young Lawyers Division and the Senior Counsel Division so that our efforts are coordinated and not at cross-purposes. To this end, this monthly column will feature guest contributors throughout the year—from the HSBA staff, from members in various practice areas, from different geographies, and from different stages of members’ careers. By doing this, we hope to foster dialogue, connection, and understanding across the HSBA community.

Undoubtedly, this year will bring both challenges and opportunities, but I am confident that as long as we keep the lines of communication open, and we keep the conversation civil and respectful, that the HSBA can be stronger and more proactive when I turn over the presidency to Kristin Izumi-Nitao in December of this year. Thank you in advance for your support of the HSBA board and staff, and all of our members who are volunteering on HSBA committees, civics education programs, YLD projects, and other HSBA initiatives. As I said in my Hawaii Bar Journal article, time is short. Do not waste it.