Hear From the
YLD President

Aloha,

The Young Lawyers Division is proud to announce the successful conclusion of the 2026 Hawai‘i High School Mock Trial Competition!

This year’s Competition marked a historic milestone in the program’s decades-long history, featuring a record-breaking 200 students representing 21 teams from 17 public and private schools across O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i, and Hawai‘i Island. As the YLD’s flagship program, this Competition is dedicated to fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and public speaking skills in Hawai‘i’s youth.

After intense preliminary rounds, four teams advanced to the semifinals presided over by Justice Lisa M. Ginoza and HSBA President Mark K. Murakami. In a hard-fought final match presided over by Chief Justice Sabrina S. McKenna, Hawai‘i Baptist Academy emerged as the state champion, who will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, this May to represent the spirit of Hawai‘i at the National Championship.

We are deeply humbled by the 38 judges, 30 coaches, and 60 volunteers who bridged the gap between the classroom and the courtroom. From law students to veteran practitioners, they dedicated their personal time to ensure a professional, transformative experience for every student.

The Competition is a massive undertaking organized by the YLD Mock Trial Committee. Preparation for the three-week tournament began in August 2025, involving six months of case development, school recruitment, and logistical coordination. More than a Competition; this is a collective act of social responsibility and a testament to the belief that our duty extends beyond our desks and into the heart of our community.

We view the Competition as an evolving legacy, with room to grow and improve. Our goal this year is to connect with prior years’ coaches for feedback and create a playbook that crystallizes the process and specific logistics to support and empower future generations of YLD. This program serves as a powerful learning experience in grace, humility, and professionalism.

We are eager to see even more schools across the State get involved in this historic program. If you are a school official, know of a school interested in participating, or would like to volunteer as a coach, please reach out to us at yldmocktrial@gmail.com.

Mahalo,
Lauren Watanabe