Hawaii State Judiciary Contact: Marsha Kitagawa, Public Affairs Director Hawaii State Judiciary 417 South King Street Honolulu, HI 96813 E-mail: judpao@pixi.com Website: www.state.hi.us/jud Activity Summary: Four articles, written by state judges and the administrative director of the courts, were published in the state’s largest newspaper. The authors wrote about restorative justice, judicial independence, the judiciary’s future technology plans, and the human side of being a judge. For Hawaii’s high school students, an educational curriculum on the juvenile justice system was posted on the judiciary’s Internet website, www.state.hi.us/jud (click on “community outreach”). High schools from around the state were sent flyers inviting them to participate by downloading the lesson for use as part of their school curriculum. The project culminated with a live Internet “chat” between students and a Family Court judge. A press release was distributed to the local news media to publicize the event. Along with the Young Lawyers Division of the Hawaii State Bar Association, the Hawaii State Judiciary co-sponsored two free “Elder Law Fairs.” Members of Hawaii’s senior community were invited to learn about legal issues that may affect them, such as Medicare/Medicaid & Long-Term Care, Elder Fraud, and Estate Planning. The sessions were held at the Supreme Court courtroom in Honolulu and the District Court courtroom in the rural community of Waipahu. Activity Narrative: To commemorate Law Week 2000, the Hawaii State judiciary sponsored a variety of instructional/informational activities to expand the public's understanding of and appreciation for the rule of law and legal system. Four articles, written by Hawaii's Chief Justice Ronald Moon, Associate Justice Paula Nakayama, Circuit Court Judge Michael Town, and Administrative Director of the Courts Michael Broderick, were published in the state's most widely circulated daily newspaper, the Honolulu Advertiser, which is circulated to more than 113,000 daily readers in Hawaii. For Hawaii's high school students, an educational curriculum consisting of three lessons was posted on the judiciary's Internet website during the final week of April. It is still available online. High school Social Studies teachers statewide received a flyer inviting them to participate by downloading the lesson plan for use as part of their school curriculum. The three-lesson curriculum, intended for grades seven to 12, introduces students to Hawaii's Family Court system. Students learn the meaning of the term “minor.” They examine the disposition process and review sentencing options. Finally, they participate in a simulated Family Court hearing. The remaining lessons consist of learning activities including a crossword puzzle, word search, and "what if" scenarios. The course, designed by the Judiciary History Center, is modeled after a curriculum distributed by the Washington State Courts. The project culminated with a live Internet "chat" between students at Kaimuki High School and Family Court Judge Karen Radius. During the session, students interacted with the judge in a free-flowing, chat-room discussion and posed questions raised during their assignment. On Saturday, April 29 and Saturday, May 6, free "Elder Law Fairs" were conducted for the general public. During the clinics, information on legal issues facing Hawaii's senior community was presented, including information on Medicare/Medicaid, long-term care, elder fraud, estate planning, and living wills. The presenters were volunteer attorneys and legal professionals. More about this project Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization