Education

J.D., Pacific Asian Legal Studies Certificate with a Specialty in Native Hawaiian Law, William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

B.A., Journalism with a Certificate in Intercultural Studies, Pepperdine University

Clerkships

Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon

Affiliations

Board Member, Kahalu’u Kūāhewa

Board Member, Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden

Board Member, Hawai’i Island-Pacific & Asia Cultural Celebrations

‘Olapa, Hālau Ka’eaikaheleani

Ashley Obrey

Senior Staff Attorney, Lāhui Services

Ashley Kaiao Obrey is a Senior Staff Attorney in the Lāhui Services practice group at NHLC. Ashley’s practice includes handling matters to protect Native Hawaiian land and water rights, cultural resources, sacred places, and traditional and customary practices, enforce the State’s trust responsibilities to Native Hawaiians and public trust resources, and ensure that the State upholds its constitutional duty to provide access to Hawaiian immersion education.

Ashley was an associate editor of the Native Hawaiian Law, A Treatise (2015) and drafted a chapter for the next edition of the Treatise. She also worked as law clerk to Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.

Based out of Kona, Hawaiʻi Island, Ashley serves on the board of directors of Kahalu‘u Kūāhewa and the Friends of Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden. She is an ʻōlapa of Hālau Kaʻeaikahelelani, a proud mom of two keiki ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, and a passionate supporter of the normalization of Hawaiian language in her community.

Publications

Native Hawaiian Law, A Treatise (2nd Edition), co-author, Ali‘i Trusts Chapter (awaiting publication).

Native Hawaiian Law, A Treatise, Associate Editor (2015).

M. Haia and A. Obrey, O‘ahu Rail: Archaeological Survey Gives Sacred Iwi Their Due Respect, Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Sept. 2, 2012).

S. Lee, A. Obrey, and E. Yamamoto, Prospects for Reconciliation: The United States and Native Hawaiians, 6 World Association for Island Studies Journal 73 (2012).

A. Obrey and E. Yamamoto, Reframing Redress: A “Social Healing Through Justice” Approach to United States-Native Hawaiian and Japan-Ainu Reconciliation Initiatives, 16 ASIAN AM. L.J. 5 (2009).

A. Obrey and E. Yamamoto, From Heart Mountain to Iraq: Lt. Watada and a Continuing Line of Resistance, UCLA AMERASIA JOURNAL, Volume 13, Number 3 (2007).

Broken Promise? A Brief Update on the U.S. Role in Native Hawaiian Reconciliation Since the 1993 Apology, Ka Heʻe, Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, Issue 3 (Aug. 2007).