Standing ʻOnipaʻa for Justice with Aloha
January 17, 2025 is the 132nd anniversary of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi government, an egregious injustice that the nation of Kānaka, the lāhui, continues to endure with steadfast love for culture, community, and place. Achieving justice and restoring pono in Hawaiʻi is a multi-generational and intergenerational journey, requiring us to sustain our study and practice of ʻike Hawaiʻi. I ka wā ma mua, ka wā ma hope—the future is found in the past. During this time, we reflect on the strategies employed by the treasonous perpetrators of the coup d’état against the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and our ...
NHLC welcomes its summer intern class of 2024
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation welcomes its 2024 Summer Students! NHLC’s experiential learning program welcomes undergraduate, law, and other graduate students throughout the year. Most are with NHLC during the summer. NHLC’s program is a unique opportunity for students to learn in an Indigenous-lead, Indigenous rights legal practice. Each summer the program welcomes students from across the country who have a passion for law, Indigenous justice, and pono stewardship of the ‘āina. This year's class include 6 law students and 8 undergraduate students representing 11 colleges and universities across the United States. NHLC is proud to be a part ...
Proposed Project Threatens Culturally, Ecologically Important Black Sands Beach
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation and the Center for Biological Diversity will appear before the Windward Planning Commission on Monday to urge commissioners to protect the natural resources, cultural practices and pristine landscape of the wahi pana of Punaluʻu, Kaʻū, from a 147-acre development. The proposed Punaluʻu Village project would include 225 residential and vacation rental units, a retail and wellness center, and the rehabilitation of an existing golf course and tennis facilities. The resort would replace the now defunct Sea Mountain at Punaluʻu. “Punaluʻu must be protected and we’ll fight this development tooth and nail,” said Maxx Phillips, Hawaiʻi ...
NHLC Executive Director contributes to NaHHA’s Ka Huina 2023 Intellectual and Cultural Property Panel
Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation’s Executive Director, Makalika Naholowaʻa, was a part of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association’s (NaHHA) fifth annual Ka Huina convention as a panelist on cultural intellectual property. Moderated by Hawaii Representative Darius Kila, Naholowaʻa joined Breann Huʻuhiwa of Dentons International Law and Zachary Lum of Kāhuli Leo Leʻa to discuss the ARTIST Act, cultural intellectual property, and regenerative tourism. Currently, Native Hawaiian artisans are not protected under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA). The ARTIST Act being considered by Congress would change that, among other amendments to the IACA. In this talk, Naholowaʻa, Huʻuhiwa and Lum ...
NHLC Mourns the Passing of Aunty Colette Machado
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation mourns the passing of Aunty Colette Machado. For more than 50 years, Aunty Colette embodied aloha ʻāina. She was a visionary leader for pono stewardship of Hawaiʻi lands and waters to achieve ʻāina momona and a thriving lāhui. Aunty Colette was a masterful advocate and leader, employing complex strategies to effect change and achieve justice, including more than one legal battle. Aunty Colette’s legacy includes more than one generation of advocates inspired by her to aloha ʻāina, including all of us at NHLC. We pray for comfort for Uncle Myron and the Machado ʻohana, and ...
NHLC Newsletter
Stay updated with NHLC news through our quarterly newsletter! Read the newsletter here: NHLC Quarterly Newsletter
Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Resolution 2021-71
The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs commends Moses Haia III and Alan Murakami on their retirement and their steadfast work with the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation. Read the AHCC resolution here: Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Resolution 2021-71
Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Resolution 2021-32
The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs congratulates Summer Lee Haunani Sylva on her appointment as Senior Advisor for Native Hawaiian Affairs of the Department of Interior Read the AHCC resolution here: Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs Resolution 2021-32
Public Testimony of NHLC in Opposition of SB2078
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation OPPOSES SB2078, which adds the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (“HTA”) president and chief executive officer as an ex officio member of the Board of Land and Natural Resources (“BLNR”) and Land Use Commission (“LUC”). Read NHLC’s public testimony here: NHLC Opposes SB2078 Read SB2078 here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2022/bills/SB2078_.HTM
NHLC Feature: Legal Minds, Native Values (MidWeek)
NHLC Feature: Legal Minds, Native Values (MidWeek)