Since its establishment in 2012, the Kapolei Access to Justice Room (KAJR) has provided over 3,090 free consultations to O‘ahu residents, focusing on family law matters. Initially remote due to the pandemic, KAJR has adopted a hybrid model since March, offering both in-person and Zoom consultations. The service is facilitated by the Hawai‘i Supreme Court Law Library and is a collaboration between the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary and the Family Law Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association. This year, KAJR began working with interpreters for languages including Spanish, Tagalog, Chuukese, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean, and Chinese.
Key personnel supporting KAJR operations in 2024 included Jenny Silbiger, Richard Diehl, Ellen Politano among others. Similarly, supporters of the Honolulu District Court Access to Justice Room included individuals like Jenny Silbiger and Judge Melanie May.
The Honolulu Access to Justice Room (Honolulu AJR), also started in 2012, has provided 9,966 free consultations and is expected to surpass 10,000 by year's end. It transitioned from in-person services to remote during March 2020 due to COVID-19. Honolulu AJR operates through a partnership with the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i alongside AmeriCorps members who facilitate client intake and attorney pairing.
Since October 2011 when these initiatives began across Hawaiian islands, nearly 39,000 people have received free legal consultation thanks to individual attorneys and various legal organizations.
Attorneys interested in volunteering at self-help centers or seeking pro bono opportunities are encouraged to visit the Hawaiʻi Access to Justice Commission website.