New-Self Help Center opens in Hilo

HILO, Hawaii: Hilo’s Hale Kaulike has a new Self Help Center.

An opening ceremony was held at the state courthouse on Friday.

In this room, located on the first floor of the judicial building, those who are involved in civil matters and are representing themselves in court will find assistance finding legal information, thanks to volunteer attorneys, donating their time during lunch hour.

At Friday’s event, Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, Third Circuit Chief Judge Ronald Ibarra, and Hawaii County Bar Association President Darien Nagata spoke before a roomful of local layers and judges.
Later, the chief justice told us it should be a big help to the public.

Recktenwald also foresees the center being a benefit to the judiciary.

The Self-Help Center is a collaborative effort of the state Judiciary, Hawaii State Bar Association, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and the Hawaii County Bar Association. There is no public funding for this effort.

Justice Recktenwald gave a lot of credit to the Hawaii County Bar, who also picked up the some of the costs for the effort, and vowed to staff the Self Help Center with volunteers.

Still, on Friday, Judge Ibarra, was still trying to wrangle willing attorneys to man the center…