50th Commencement Program (2026)

KE KULA KĀNĀWAI ‘O WILLIAM S. RICHARDSON

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Aha Puka K ula K anawai - -

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY CLASS OF 2026

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The University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents Gabriel Lee, Chair Mike Miyahira, Vice Chair Joshua Faumuina, Vice Chair Wayne Higaki William F. Haning III Diane Paloma Laurel Loo Laurie Tochiki ‘80 Neil Abercrombie Lauren Akitake The University of Hawai‘i Administration Wendy F. Hensel, President Debora Halbert, Vice President for Academic Strategy ‘22 Jan Gouveia, Vice President for Administration Tim Dolan, Vice President for Advancement Luis Salaveria, Vice President for Budget and Finance/Chief Financial Officer Lui Hokoana, Interim Vice President for Community Colleges Garret Yoshimi, Vice President for Information Technology/Chief Information Officer Carrie K. S. Okinaga, Vice President for Legal Affairs/University General Counsel Chad Walton, Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Kaiwipunikauikawēkiu Lipe, Director of Hawai‘i Papa o ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Administration Wendy F. Hensel, President Vassilis L. Syrmos, Interim Provost Sandy French, Chief Business Officer Laura E. Lyons, Interim Vice Provost for Academic Excellence Nikki Kāhealani Chun, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Robert Wright, Interim Vice Provost for Research & Scholarship Katrina-Ann R. Kapā‘anaokalāokeola Oliveira, Interim Vice Provost for Student Success Kaiwipunikauikawēkiu Lipe, Director of Hawai‘i Papa o ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office William S. Richardson School of Law Administration Camille A. Nelson, Dean, Professor of Law Troy J. H. Andrade ‘11, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Sullivan Distinguished Professor; Director, Ulu Lehua Scholars Program Shari Larsen ‘06, Associate Dean for Student Services

PAPA HŌ‘IKE O KA ‘AHA PUKA KULA KĀNĀWAI ORDER OF CEREMONY PĀ KEAKA ‘O ANDREWS ANDREWS AMPHITHEATER LĀ ʻUMIKŪMĀHIKU O MEI MAKAHIKI ʻELUA KAUKANI IWAKĀLUA KŪMĀONO HAPAHĀ I KOE KANI KA HOLA ʻELIMA O KE AHIAHI MAY SEVENTEETH, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX, FOUR FORTY-FIVE P.M. KAʻI - PROCESSIONAL OLI KĀHEA - Wewehi Mānoa OLI KOMO - ‘Ohu‘ohu Mānoa Professor Emerita Melody MacKenzie ‘76, Professor U‘ilani Tanigawa Lum ‘19 WELINA - WELCOME Dean Camille A. Nelson HĀʻAWI ʻIA KA PALAPALA HOʻOHANOHANO ʻO KA DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS IĀ JULIAN AGUON CONFERRAL OF HONORARY DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS UPON JULIAN AGUON Regent Laurie Tochiki ‘80, University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents Regent Lauren Akitake, University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents Dean Nelson HA‘I‘ŌLELO ‘AHA PUKA KULA KĀNĀWAI - COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS Julian Aguon ‘09 HA‘I‘ŌLELO PŪ‘ULU KUMU KULA KĀNĀWAI - FACULTY ADDRESS Professor Miyoko Pettit-Toledo ‘15 HA‘I‘ŌLELO HAUMĀNA HAPAMANAWA AHIAHI KĒKELĒ KĀNĀWAI JURIS DOCTOR EVENING PART TIME STUDENT ADDRESS Brian Piotrowski HA‘I‘ŌLELO HAUMĀNA MANAWA PIHA KĒKELĒ KĀNĀWAI JURIS DOCTOR FULL TIME STUDENT ADDRESS Kapri Tulang-De Silva HULA - Rain Tuahine O Mānoa KA HĀ‘AWI ‘ANA I NĀ KĒKELĒ - CONFERRAL OF DEGREES NAME READERS Professor Kamaile Turčan ‘08 & Professor Derek Kauanoe ‘08 KA HŌʻIKE ʻIA ʻANA O KA PAPA E PUKA AʻE ANA - PRESENTATION OF THE GRADUATING CLASS Deputy Chief Judge of the District Court (ret.) Barbara Richardson HĪMENI - Hawai‘i Aloha HOʻI - RECESSIONAL

‘ŌLELO HAWAI‘I Hoʻomaopopo mākou, ke kula kānāwai hoʻokahi o Hawaiʻi, ʻo ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ka ʻōlelo mua o ke aupuni Hawaiʻi.

Eia naʻe, i hoʻokahi hanauna aku nei, ʻaneʻane pau loa ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. ʻOiai ke hoʻōla hou ʻia nei ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, haʻaheo maoli nō mākou i ka hiki ke hoʻohanohano pono i ka moʻomeheu kūikwā a koʻikoʻi loa o kēia ʻāina aloha nui ʻia ma o ke paʻi ʻia ʻana o kēia papa hōʻike ma ka ʻōlelo makuahine o Hawaiʻi nei.

Mahalo me ke ʻohohia nui iā Polopeka Uʻilani Tanigawa Lum a me Liʻi Nāhiwa i ka mahele ʻōlelo ʻana mai.

As the only Law School in Hawaiʻi, we recognize that ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi was the first language of Hawaiʻi. However, within the span of just one generation, the Hawaiian language was on the brink of extinction. As a part of the language revitalization movement, we are very proud to honor the prominent, unique culture of Hawaiʻi by printing this program in Hawaiʻi’s native language. A heartfelt mahalo to Professor Uʻilani Tanigawa Lum and Liʻi Nāhiwa for providing the translations.

KĀNĀWAI MĀMALAHOE THE LAW OF THE SPLINTERED PADDLE I kona wā he aliʻi ʻōpio, ua ʻike ʻo Kamehameha Paiʻea i kekahi mau kānaka lawaiʻa e holoholo ana ma ka ʻaekai i Puna, Hawaiʻi. Aia nō a ʻike lākou iā Kamehameha e hele mai ana, ua ʻauheʻe aku nā kānaka lawaiʻa a ua hahai ʻo Kamehameha iā lākou. Iā Kamehameha e hahai ana, ua paʻa ko Kamehameha wāwae i kekahi māwae i ka ʻaʻā. Huli maila kekahi o nā lawaiʻa e ʻauheʻe ana a ua hili ʻo ia i ke poʻo o ke aliʻi ʻōpio i kona hoe. Ma hope o kekahi mau makahiki, i ka wā i hoʻohui pū ai ʻo Kamehameha i nā mokupuni a pau o Hawaiʻi ma lalo ona, ua kauoha ʻo ia, “e hele ka ʻelemakule, ka luahine, a me ke keiki a moe i ke ala. ʻAʻohe mea nāna e hoʻopilikia.” Ma kahi o ka hoʻopaʻi ʻana i nā lawaiʻa, ua hoʻopaʻa ʻia ka ʻihi kūpono i nā kānaka a pau a ua pale ia kānāwai i nā makaʻāinana mai nā aliʻi mai. ʻO kēia ke kānāwai a Kamehameha i kūkala ai a kapa ʻia ua kauoha nei ʻo Ke Kānāwai Māmalahoe. Na Sanford Mock ke kiʻi mai. Na Ruby Hamili ’82 lāua ʻo Michael Moore ’82 ka manaʻo ma hope o ia kiʻi.

As a young warrior chief, Kamehameha the Great happened upon fishermen in Puna, Hawaiʻi. He approached them and they ran, but during the ensuing chase, Kamehameha’s foot got caught in a lava crevice. Unaware of the chief’s royalty, one of the fleeing fishermen turned and broke a canoe paddle over the young chief’s head. Years later, after Kamehameha united the islands under his stewardship as mōʻī, he declared that “old men, the old women and the children may lie on the road-side and they shall not be harmed.” Instead of punishing the fishermen, this kānāwai memorialized the common respect due to all people and protected the weak from the strong. This was the law proclaimed by Kamehameha and it became known as the Law of the Splintered Paddle. Cover art by Sanford Mock from an original concept by Ruby Hamili ’82 and Michael Moore ’82.

Ke Kānāwai Māmalahoe E nā kānaka, E mālama ʻoukou i ke akua A e mālama hoʻi i kānaka nui a me kānaka iki; E hele ka ʻelemakule, ka luahine, a me ke kama A moe i ke ala ʻaʻohe mea nāna e hoʻopilikia.

Hewa nō, make.

Law of the Splintered Paddle Oh people, Honor thy god; respect alike [the rights of] people both great and humble; May everyone, from the old men and women to the children Be free to go forth and lie in the road Without fear of harm.

Break this law, and die.

NA KA LUNA KULA KĀNĀWAI DEAN’S MESSAGE Dear Class of 2026 Law School Graduates, I offer my heartfelt congratulations! The entire William S. Richardson Law School community joins me in celebrating you on the milestone occasion of your graduation.

This is an incredible time to have completed your legal studies.

As you reflect on your experiences over the last few years, I hope you are immensely proud of yourselves and all you have learned and accomplished. I also hope you recognize the momentous time in which you are graduating with a law degree.

It would be an understatement to say that you have witnessed and studied the role and rule of law, and its reverberations near and far, in an historic time. Indeed, now, more than ever, the law and legal topics dominate the news and all forms of media, and are top of mind for many people worldwide. This dominance of legal matters highlights how your legal education, insights, and work can help shape society for the better.

Your legal education has equipped you to analyze societal issues that have been front and center daily. Your legal training has also prepared you to recognize emerging problems that will soon become pressing concerns in our families, communities, and society. These societal challenges require your attention and leadership.

As professional problem solvers, your law degree has equipped you to analyze the myriad implications of the law, to see its intersections with numerous areas of our lives, and to lead with integrity, skill, and professionalism. The emphasis on professionalism is just as important as the legal acumen with which you will practice. As stated in our mission, professionalism is a central component of the calling of a Richardson Lawyer as we strive to “ . . . develop highly qualified, ethical professionals through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and public service.” We are confident you will live true to this mission and are grateful for your commitment. We are also thankful for your dedication to each other, to the William S. Richardson School of Law, and to the communities of which you are a part.

For these reasons and more, I warmly congratulate you, your family, and the community members who have supported you. We join them in celebrating your success!

It has been an honor to have you with us as students. We look forward to your continued connection with Richardson Law as alumni.

On behalf of the University, our faculty, staff, and alumni, we would like to offer our enduring support as you advance in the profession as the legal leaders we know you are destined to be.

My deepest congratulations and warmest aloha, Camille A. Nelson

NA KE KIA‘ĀINA GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE

Special Message from

Governor Josh Green, M.D. In Recognition of the

50th Commencement Ceremony William S. Richardson School of Law May 17, 2026

On behalf of the people of Hawaiʻi, I extend a warm aloha to the esteemed faculty and staff of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s William S. Richardson School of Law (WSRSL), distinguished guests including alumni of the law school, graduates, and their families and friends who are all gathered today for the 50th Commencement Ceremony. First Lady Jaime Kanani Green, a proud alumnus of the WSRSL Class of 2002, and I are honored to congratulate the Class of 2026 on earning their Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

This milestone represents not only five decades of graduating new lawyers, but also a half century of strengthening justice, leadership and public service across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. Since its founding in 1973, the law school has fulfilled a bold and visionary purpose: to educate lawyers rooted in Hawaiʻi’s values and who are committed to serving our communities. As the only JD-granting law school in Hawai‘i and across the Pacific, WSRSL plays an outsized role in cultivating local talent, opening doors of opportunity and preparing graduates who go on to serve in our courts, legislature, executive branch, nonprofit sector and private practice. The school’s leadership impact is visible in every branch of government and throughout the civic life of our islands. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and WSRSL have been indispensable partners in building Hawaiʻi’s legal and civic infrastructure. By training students who understand the unique cultural, environmental and economic landscape of our state, the law school ensures that Hawaiʻi’s future leaders are grounded in both excellence and service. Its commitment to access and community engagement reflects the very best of our public university mission.

Our new graduates are now part of a noble profession. I extend my best wishes as you each go forth to serve with integrity, courage and compassion, and remember that your public university education was made possible by a community that believes in your potential to lead and serve.

With warm aloha,

JOSH GREEN, M.D. Governor, State of Hawai‘i

NA KA PELIKIKENA O KE KULA NUI O HAWAIʻI MESSAGE FROM UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI PRESIDENT WENDY HENSEL Aloha UH Law School Graduates and Families, On behalf of the University of Hawaiʻi, congratulations to the William S. Richardson School of Law Class of 2026. Today we celebrate the years of disciplined study, long nights of reading and writing, and the steady determination that brought you to this moment. We also celebrate the parents, partners, children, mentors and friends who supported you, whose encouragement and sacrifice are part of this achievement. As a trained lawyer and a former law dean, I know firsthand what it takes to earn this degree, and I hope you take a moment to feel proud of all you have accomplished.

You enter the profession in 2026 at a time when the rule of law is being tested by rapid technological change, widening inequality, pressures on democratic institutions, and urgent debates about how we protect rights, ensure safety and build trust in public systems. In this environment, a law degree is not only a credential; it is a commitment.

You will be asked to defend due process, to insist on evidence and fairness, and to model the ethics and civility that make justice possible. The communities you serve will look to you not just for answers, but for judgment.

As graduates of Hawaiʻi’s law school, your perspective is shaped by the people and place that taught you: the values of aloha, the importance of community, and a deep respect for moʻomeheu (culture) and ʻāina (land). Wherever your path leads—public service, private practice, government, business, advocacy or the judiciary—carry with you the understanding that law is lived every day by real people. You also carry kuleana: the responsibility to use your training with integrity, humility and courage, and to help ensure that the law serves the greater good.

We are proud of the excellence you have demonstrated through rigorous scholarship, practical training, and a commitment to service. As you take the oath, enter your first role, or return to serve your communities in new ways, remember that you are part of the University of Hawaiʻi ʻohana. We will be cheering for you, and we look forward to the leadership you will provide as advocates, counselors and guardians of the rule of law.

My deepest congratulations and warmest aloha, Wendy Hensel UH President

NA KA PAPA 2026 MESSAGE FROM THE 50TH GRADUATING CLASS CLASS OF 2026 Mahalo nui loa from the Graduating Class of 2026!

To our esteemed professors, dedicated staff, loving families, and unwavering supporters, Mahalo nui loa (thank you so very much)!

As we stand on the threshold of our futures, we reflect on the journey that brought us here. The William S. Richardson School of Law has not only shaped us into advocates for justice, but has also instilled in us values of resilience, service, and aloha.

To our professors, mahalo for sharing your valuable wisdom and pushing us to think critically and compassionately.

To the Richardson administration and staff, mahalo for your tireless support behind the scenes, ensuring our success.

To our ʻohana (families) and loved ones, your sacrifices and encouragement have been our foundation–we would not be here without you.

As we step forward into the next chapter of our lives, we carry with us the lessons, friendships, and kuleana (responsibility) instilled within this cherished space. The spirit of Richardson–rooted in service to our communities and justice for all–will guide us always.

Mahalo piha and aloha kekahi i kekahi (our deepest gratitude and aloha for one another).

Ke aloha nui (with abundant aloha), The Graduating Class of 2026

William S. Richardson School of Law Class of 1976

Bruce A. Anderson Hayden F. Burgess Nancy Callahan John White Cater Anthony K.U. Chang Catherine O.Y. Chang Calleen J. Ching Darwin L.D. Ching Edward L. Correa, Jr. Thomas E. Crowley, III Edwin L. Doernberger Patricia C. Eads Gerald I. Fujita Carol A. Fukunaga Howard M. Fukushima Franklin I. Hayashida Allen K. Hoe

Malcolm E. Hong Mary L. Hudson Karl K. Ichida Mary Blaine Johnston William Luther King, II Harriet H.Y. Lewis Melody K. MacKenzie Marjorie Higa Manuia Stanford M.J. Manuia Wayne A. Matsuura Barbara Melvin Shirley Ann Mesher Jennifer Ahn Minami Reginald P. Minn Glenn M. Miyajima Gerald I. Miyoshi Reinhard Mohr Russel S. Nagata

Lani Nakazawa Gary Steven Oliva Ronald K. Sakata Robert G. Schmitt Abelina M. Shaw William E. Smith James J. Stone Glen Takabuki Ladd Ueoka Kumu B. Vasconcellos Roy A. Vitousek, III John D. Waihee, III T. Lynne Wasson Cynthia Winegar Wayson W.S. Wong Terry N. Yoshinaga Wayne R. Young

NA KA PAPA MUA O KA MAKAHIKI 1976 MESSAGE FROM THE 1st GRADUATING CLASS CLASS OF 1976 Aloha e Class of 2026, As the members of the Class of 1976 – the first class to graduate from our Law School fifty years ago – we congratulate you on achieving this milestone! Chief Justice William S. Richardson saw his dream of a law school for Hawaiʻi come to fruition in 1973. He was determined that everyone in Hawai‘i should have the opportunity to obtain an excellent legal education and, along with other advocates, he led an uphill battle to create the Law School!

His central purpose was to give the fullest opportunities to Hawaiʻi’s people, and particularly to those who were disadvantaged and underserved.

In a speech at our 1976 graduation, C.J. Richardson challenged us to fulfill the promise of Hawaiʻi in seeking our “places in the sun.” He summoned us to “preserve and promote Hawaiʻi’s dearest values: our sense of community, respect for our land, and the sea and our common humanity.” Here we all are, fifty years later, fulfilling his legacy for us, our community, the larger Pacific, and, indeed, the world. E Hoʻomau!

Our hope for you and for the Law School – persevere and work hard to fulfill C.J. Richardson’s vision, address the multitude of issues that impact our communities, never forget your roots, pay tribute to your ancestors, and honor the ʻāina that has nurtured you and your dreams! E Holomua!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR STORY Read about the Class of 1976 and their legacy.

HA‘I‘ŌLELO ‘AHA PUKA KULA KĀNĀWAI COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER JULIAN AGUON ‘09 Julian Aguon is an international human rights lawyer and public intellectual from Guam whose work operates at the forefront of climate justice, decolonization, and Indigenous rights. He is the founder of Blue Ocean Law, where his practice has shaped international legal discourse through strategic litigation and advocacy, including advisory opinion proceedings before the International Court of Justice concerning the obligations of states in respect of climate change. Aguon brings distinctive doctrinal rigor to international human rights and environmental law, drawing on Indigenous legal thought and the historical record of empire in the Pacific.

His work advances an account of international law grounded in responsibility for cumulative and intergenerational harm, and in the legal and moral demands of repair. In this capacity, his firm led the global legal team that helped secure the International Court of Justice’s historic advisory opinion on climate change, a ruling widely understood to mark a decisive shift in international law toward heightened climate accountability and enforceable state responsibility. A Pulitzer Prize finalist and Right Livelihood Award laureate, Aguon is also an educator, essayist, and mentor committed to the cultivation of legal professionals in the Pacific. He is the author of No Country for EightSpot Butterflies.

HA‘I‘ŌLELO PŪ‘ULU KUMU KULA KĀNĀWAI FACULTY SPEAKER MIYOKO T. PETTIT-TOLEDO ‘15 Miyoko T. Pettit-Toledo ‘15, a proud William S. Richardson School of Law, Harvard College, and ‘Iolani School alumna, joined the faculty in August 2022 as an Assistant Professor of Law. She teaches Civil Procedure, Advanced Civil Procedure, Complex Litigation and Political Lawyering, Reparations and Reconciliation, and Second Year Seminar. In 2025, she was named Outstanding Law Professor of the Year and nominated for the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching. She was also selected as an awardee of the 2025-2026 UH Innovation and Impact Showcase in recognition of her exceptional, innovative teaching practices and measurable impact on student learning, engagement, and program development.

Professor Pettit-Toledo’s scholarship merges legal theory with frontline advocacy for civil and human rights as well as social justice. Her multidisciplinary work examines reconciliation initiatives and reparations for historic injustice, with particular attention to healing intergenerational harms and addressing the intersection of race and gender. For more than a decade, her work has engaged survivors, advocates, scholars, officials, and community members connected to the April 3, 1948, Tragedy in Jeju, South Korea. Her scholarship also analyzes developments in federal and state civil procedure and their impacts on access to justice. Her article, The Politics of Proportionality in State Civil Rulemaking, earned Honorable Mention recognition through the Association of American Law Schools’ Junior Scholarship Competition in Civil Procedure. Her scholarship has appeared in leading journals, including Denver Law Review, Berkeley Journal for Gender, Law, and Justice, Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems, and University of Hawai‘i Law Review.

After graduating from Richardson, Professor Pettit-Toledo clerked for the Honorable Richard W. Pollack, thenAssociate Justice of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, and the Honorable Susan Oki Mollway, then-Senior District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. She later practiced civil litigation with McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP and served as the Executive Director for Maximum Legal Services Corporation, a Hawai‘i 501(c)(3) legal non-profit. Professor Pettit-Toledo currently serves on the Hawai‘i Supreme Court’s Committee on Equality and Access to the Courts and the Advisory Committee of the Hawai‘i State Bar Association’s Leadership Institute. Her latest endeavor is teaching her 9-month-old son to speak and read in English, Brazilian Portuguese, and French.

HA‘IŌLELO HAUMĀNA HAPAMANAWA AHIAHI KĒKELĒ KĀNĀWAI JURIS DOCTOR EVENING PART TIME STUDENT ADDRESS

BRIAN PIOTROWSKI Brian Piotrowski was born and raised on O‘ahu and has worked full-time as Vice President of Karl’s Construction Services, LLC since March 2021. Prior to returning home to serve in that role, he formerly worked in biomedical research in Washington, DC from 2012 to 2021. During that time he contributed to a number of projects, studying biofilm formation in multidrug-resistant bacteria, the genetics of bipolar disorder, and the immunology of the parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis.

Brian earned a B.A. in Molecular Biology with a minor in Music from Colgate University in 2012. He then went on to earn an M.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from Georgetown University in 2018. Furthermore, he is certified by the International Code Council as a Commercial Building Inspector and a Residential Building Inspector.

HA‘IŌLELO HAUMĀNA MANAWA PIHA KĒKELĒ KĀNĀWAI JURIS DOCTOR FULL TIME STUDENT ADDRESS KAPRI TULANG-DE SILVA From Waipiʻo, Oʻahu, Kapri Tulang-De Silva is a Kamehameha Schools (KS) graduate, and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of San Diego’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences. She is also a University of Hawaiʻi (UH) Ph.D. in Transformative Education student. Before law school, Kapri assisted at Hawaiʻi’s Supreme Court Law Library and was an office clerk for Pulice Nervell and Gilbert C. Doles law offices.

In law school, Kapri was a KS Summer School Elementary Swim Instructor, and Freshmen Orientation Facilitator, extern for Hawaiʻi’s Office of the Public Defender (PDs), pro bono volunteer for the PDs and the Honorable Judge Somerville, Hawaiʻi Public Policy Advocates policy intern, and UH Law Child Welfare Clinic Research Assistant. She was also UH Law’s Student Bar Association Events and Merchandise Committee Chair and Ulu Lehua Senator, Filipino Lawyers Student Association Secretary, Ete Bowl Co-Captain, and Civil Procedure Teaching Assistant.

WAHA ‘ŌLELO EMCEES

ALEXIS NAKABAYASHI Alexis Nakabayashi was born and raised in Pearl City, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. She graduated from Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy in 2019 and received her B.A. in Criminal Justice, with distinction, with a minor in Political Science from the University of Colorado, Denver.

While at Richardson, Alexis has served as a 2L and 3L Senator for the Student Bar Association, working alongside co-emcee Travis, chairing for Aloha Committee, and assisting with SBA’s social media.

She has also served as a Teaching Assistant for Professor Troy Andrade’s Torts and the Westlaw Representative for Richardson. Additionally, Alexis served as the Activities Media Coordinator for PALSO and Volume 48 Staff Writer for Law Review. Alexis expresses her gratitude for her family, friends, and loved ones for their support and kindness, and especially her grandparents, Michie and Tetsuji, who made it all possible.

TRAVIS KON Travis Kon was born and raised in Moanalua, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. He graduated from ʻIolani School in 2019 and earned his B.A. from the University of Portland in 2022, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Constitutional Studies. During law school, Travis served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal alongside Courtnee Collins, collaborating with students, practitioners, and professors, to uplift academic scholarship on the Asia-Pacific region.

He also served as President of the Student Bar Association where he contributed to collective efforts to expand mental health services, improve student learning environments, and foster on-campus community. Additionally, he worked as a Research Assistant for Professor Derek H. Kauanoe, exploring ways to advocate for Native Hawaiian rights through international law. Travis is grateful to his family, friends, and mentors, for their unconditional support over these past several years.

DEANS Camille A. Nelson, Dean, Professor of Law Troy J. H. Andrade ‘11, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Sullivan Distinguished Professor; Director, Ulu Lehua Scholars Program Shari Larsen ‘06, Associate Dean for Student Services

FACULTY Aamir Abdullah Librarian, Reference & Instructional Services Malia Akutagawa ‘97 Associate Professor of Law Hui ‘Āina Momona Mary Apodaca Assistant Professor of Law Director, Bar Success Tae-Ung Baik Professor of Law John L. Barkai Professor of Law Kamanamaikalani Beamer Dana Naone Hall Endowed Chair Charles D. Booth Professor of Law Director, Institute of Asian-Pacific Business Law Alina Ng Boyte Professor of Law Lucy Brown ‘18 Assistant Professor of Law Catherine Bye Librarian, Technical Services/Acquisitions Eduardo Capulong Professor of Law Director, Experiential Learning

Williamson B.C. Chang Professor of Law Richard Chen Associate Professor of Law Director, Graduate & International Programs D Dangaran Assistant Professor of Law David M. Forman ‘93 Professor of Law Co-Director, Environmental Law Program Wendy Hensel Professor of Law President, University of Hawaiʻi Brian R. Huffman Librarian, Electronic Services Director, Faculty Development Derek Kauanoe ‘08 Assistant Professor of Law Kenneth Lawson Faculty Specialist Director, Hawai‘i Innocence Project Lenora Lee Faculty Specialist Administrative Director, Elder Law Program Cory Lenz Librarian, Reference and Instructional Services Mark A. Levin Professor of Law Director, Pacific-Asian Legal Studies Program Director, Center for Japanese Studies

FACULTY Justin D. Levinson Cades Foundation Professor of Law Director, Culture & Jury Project Emile Loza de Siles Assistant Professor of Law Nicholas McLean Assistant Professor of Law Nicholas Mirkay Michael J. Marks Distinguished Professor of Business Law Trisha Nakamura ‘06 Director, Pro Bono Programs Assistant Faculty Specialist Keiko Okuhara Librarian, Bibliographic Services & Systems Associate Director, Pacific-Asian Legal Studies Program MJ Palau-McDonald ‘22 Assistant Professor of Law Carole J. Petersen Cades Foundation Professor of Law Miyoko Pettit-Toledo ‘15 Assistant Professor of Law James H. Pietsch Professor of Law Director, Elder Law Program Guy Rubinstein Assistant Professor of Law Susan K. Serrano ‘98 Fred T. Korematsu Professor of Law & Social Justice Associate Director, Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law

Dina Shek ‘06 Faculty Specialist Legal Director, Medical-Legal Partnership for Children in Hawai‘i Liam Skilling ‘07 Associate Faculty Specialist Director, Academic Success D. Kapua‘ala Sproat ‘98 Professor of Law Director, Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law Director, Native Hawaiian Rights Clinic Melissa Stewart Assistant Professor of Law Victoria Szymczak Professor of Law Director, Law Library U‘ilani Tanigawa Lum ‘19 Assistant Professor of Law Co-Director, Native Hawaiian Rights Clinic Hollee Temple Professor of Law Director, Legal Writing Kamaile A.N. Turčan ‘08 Associate Professor of Law Richard Wallsgrove ‘08 Associate Professor of Law Co-Director, Environmental Law Program Director, Environmental Law Clinic Esther Yoo Assistant Professor of Law Director, Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic

ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF Kari Carolan Director, Online Legal Education

Wesley Kau Director, Finance & HR Operations

Robin Cavaco Library Acquisitions Support Specialist

Melissa Korta Director, Special Projects

Collin Cedotal Public Information Specialist

Inna Kraner Director of Development, UH Foundation

Keiralyn Pease Administrative & Fiscal Support Specialist

Benjamin Leider Innovation Fellow

Lynette T. George Rudolfo Public Services Manager

Xin Fei Li IT Support Specialist

Heather L.C. Smith-Lee Director, Law Student Financial Aid

Lori Downes Associate Director, Graduate & International Programs

Jason Lum Faculty Support Specialist

Storm Stoker Technical Services Support Specialist

Pauline Fagan Director, Administrative Services

Yayoi Marshall Admissions Coordinator

Julie Suenaga Faculty Support Specialist

Jill Gerrard Director, Professional Development & Career Management

Frankie Marullo Career Services Specialist

Anne Sumangil Events Manager

Nathaniel Noda ‘09 Special Assistant to the Dean

Tracie Sur Administrative Officer Assistant to the Associate Dean for Student Services

Tyler Cegler Director, Enrollment Management Loreto Coloma, Jr. Associate Director, Admissions

Marisa Goeppner Administrative & Fiscal Support Specialist Grant Helgeson Registrar Tiffany Ige Program Manager, Child Welfare Services Tiana Johnsen Administrative Officer

Nicole Orach Experiential Learning Program Coordinator Troy Osato Fiscal Specialist Innika Pang Assistant Registrar

Steven Park Director, Information Technology Technology Support Manager Robert Parke Faculty Support Specialist

Rayna Tamura Library Evening Supervisor Heather Young Administrative Officer Assistant to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

KĒKELĒ KĀNĀWAI LAEOʻO MASTER OF LAWS DEGREES

Hannah Berents

Jessica Kai Paisley

Bremen, Germany Specialization in International & Comparative Law, Conflict Resolution

West Vancouver, Canada Specialization in Environmental Law, Ocean Law & Policy

Robert Paul Foley III

Tamara Shaina Wallen

Grafton, Massachusetts Specialization in Environmental Law, Ocean Law & Policy

Marius Heinz Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany Specialization in Business & Commercial Law

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi Specialization in Business & Commercial Law

KĒKELĒ KĀNĀWAI JURIS DOCTOR DEGREES

Kevin K. Abe

Anthony G. Caliano

Maryam Al-Ammari

Brooke Casey

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Hanford, California

Lloyd Kili Urosevich Agamaite

Kalena R. Chiu

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi

Makela Kaleiokalani Kahawaii Aluesi Kapolei, Hawaiʻi

Long Island, New York

Mililani, Hawaiʻi

Keisha-Lynn Shizuye Kealohapauʻole Chee Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Lo R. Ashford

Courtnee Ann Mikilani Collins

Adele Balderston

Victoria E. Danforth

Gabriel J. Baugh

Karen M. Dang

Dallas Fort-Worth, Texas

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Annie K. Borgen

Addison Lynn Knowlton Davis

Kailua, Hawaiʻi

Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Kāhala, Hawaiʻi

Palos Verdes, California

Kailua, Hawaiʻi

Chelsey Bryson

Phuong Dinh

Kathryn Nicole Butterfield

Eric Edghill

San Francisco, California

Loyalton, California

Seattle, Washington

Kailua, Hawai‘i

KĒKELĒ KĀNĀWAI JURIS DOCTOR DEGREES

Joshua D. Faumuina

Timothy Harris

Indianapolis, Indiana

Waiʻanae, Oʻahu

Christie Ferreira

Jessielyn L.Y. Ho

Tori Satsuki Gallacher

Sigrid R. Howard

Marie Justine Magalem Ganoot

Chloey Harue Kuʻupuaʻānela Ishii

Mindnay Nisa F. Gapet

Jasmine N. Joao

George L. Gibson

Michael Emil Awapuhi O Ikaika Kenney Johnson

Hilo, Hawai‘i

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Lāhainā, Hawai‘i

San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Auburn, Washington

Honolulu, Hawai‘i

Waimea, Hawai‘i

Mililani, Hawaiʻi

Kahului, Hawaiʻi

Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Bronson Kaipo Kamakanoheaokalani Gonzales

Nathaniel Lloyd Jones

Korynn E. Grenert

Jana M. Kakugawa

Hannah Griffin

Justin Kenoi

Amy Groves

Mason Kenton

Kailua, Hawai‘i

Waiʻanae, Oʻahu

Mānoa, Hawaiʻi

Las Vegas, Nevada

Honolulu, Hawai‘i

Honolulu, Hawai‘i

Hilo, Hawaiʻi

Honolulu, Hawai'i

KĒKELĒ KĀNĀWAI JURIS DOCTOR DEGREES

Kauʻi O Nalani Keolanui

Anna N. Meeks

Travis Takeo Kon

Erik N. Molina

Sophia D. Koo

Kyle Kamalani Moriguchi

Jacqueline Bella Palmer Lasky

María Moral Muñoz

Connor A.O. Lee

Mariah F. Morgado

Elijah Joseph Kapono Lee

Mara M. Morioka

Gavin Xing Li

Jada Lani Moritz

Aedrik Mabini

Ashley Ann Murphy

Steven Manso

Alexis Michie Nakabayashi

Hauʻula, Hawaiʻi

Moanalua, Hawai‘i

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Kailua, Hawaiʻi

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi Kai, Oʻahu

Shanghai

Hawaiʻi Kai, Honolulu

Altamonte Springs, Florida

Tamarin L. McCartin Kapolei, Hawaiʻi

San Diego, California

Breckenridge, Colorado

Kapolei, Honouliuli, ‘Ewa Moku, O‘ahu

Madrid, Spain

Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi

Honolulu, Hawai‘i

Kailua, Hawai‘i

Granada Hills, California

Pearl City, Hawai‘i

Kekoa D. Nakasone Kāneʻohe, Hawai‘i

KĒKELĒ KĀNĀWAI JURIS DOCTOR DEGREES

Raymond J. Nichols

Tyler Waltjen

Petriese Calamayan Peralta

Kaila Wilkinson

Nyack, New York

ʻEwa Beach, Hawaiʻi

Hilo, Hawai‘i

Lāhainā, Hawai‘i

Brian O. Piotrowski

Harrison J. Witt

Katherine Pothier

Samuel E. Workman

Naomi Kaleonahenaheonālani Schubert

Ha Kyung Yoon

Angelia Mayuki Silva

Haley R.A. Yoshioka

Kalauao, Hawaiʻi

ʻEwa Beach, Hawai‘i

Sydney, Australia

Lāʻie, Hawai‘i

Seoul, Korea

Hilo, Hawaiʻi

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

Kylee A. Sumida Mililani, Hawaiʻi

Megan Tengan Kaimuki, Hawaiʻi

Kapri Lyn Kaleihanohano Tulang-De Silva Waipi‘o, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i

Isis Patiño Fernandez Usborne Mililani, Hawaiʻi

Honolulu, Hawai‘i

NĀ PALAPALA MĀKAUKAU CERTIFICATES ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

NATIVE HAWAIIAN LAW

Lloyd Kili Urosevich Agamaite Kathryn Nicole Butterfield Addison Lynn Knowlton Davis Korynn E. Grenert Jessielyn L.Y. Ho Sigrid R. Howard Jacqueline Bella Palmer Lasky Anna N. Meeks Kekoa D. Nakasone Brian O. Piotrowski Katherine Pothier Kaila Wilkinson

Annie Borgen Bronson Kaipo Kamakanoheaokalani Gonzales Jessielyn L.Y. Ho Chloey Harue Kuʻupuaʻānela Ishii Jasmine N. Joao Justin Kenoi Travis Takeo Kon Jacqueline Bella Palmer Lasky Steven Manso Brian O. Piotrowski Katherine Pothier Naomi Kaleonahenaheonālani Schubert Kaila Wilkinson

INTERNATIONAL & COMPARATIVE LAW Annie K. Borgen Steven Manso Anna N. Meeks KAULA CORDS ORGANIZATION

CORD COLORS

ORGANIZATION

CORD COLORS

Advocates for Public Interest Law

Light Blue

International & Comparative Law

Royal Blue

Asian Pacific Law & Policy Journal

Cyan

Jessup International Law Moot Court

Purple

Black Law Students Association

Kente Cloth Stole

La Alianza

Red, Gold, and Green

Black Law Students Association Competition Team

Pan African Cords

Lambda Law Student Association

Lavender

Christian Legal Society

Maroon and Gold

Law and Business Organization

Black and Teal

Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity

Black and Gold

Law Review

Forest Green and Antique Gold

Environmental Law Certificate Program

Forest Green

National Mock Trial

Pink & White

Environmental Law Society

Light Blue and Green

Native American Moot Court

Navy Blue and Gold

Environmental Moot Court Teams

Mint Green

Native Hawaiian Law Certificate Program (Ka Huli Ao)

Tangerine

Evening Part Time

Silver

Pacific Asian Legal Studies Certificate Program

Maroon and White

Federal Bar Association

Navy Blue and White

Sports Law Moot Court

Orange and White

Federalist Society

Navy and Orange

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund

Amber and Black

Filipino Law Student Association

Gold, Navy, and Red

Student Bar Association

Green and White

Hawaii Women Lawyers

Red and Pink

The International Legal Honor Society Phi Delta Phi

Red, Yellow, and Blue

Intellectual Property Moot Court

Pink

Ulu Lehua Scholars Program

Red and Gold

Uvaldo Herrera National Moot Court Team

Red, Orange and Gold

OLI KĀHEA WEWEHI MĀNOA © Kalikolīhau Hannahs Paik Adapted from Wewehi Waʻahila i ka ua noe, na Līhau Hannahs Paik, October 2002 Wewehi Mānoa i ka ua noe Nohea ka ihona o ke koʻiʻula Māpu ka hanu o ka ua Tuahine Lei ana nā pali i ka haliʻa aloha Eia aʻe ka leo, ʻo kaʻu e ʻanoʻi nei He leo e kāhea mai nei

Mānoa is adorned in the misty rain Lovely is the descent of the rainbow-hued rain A fragrance wafted in the Tuahine rain Covering the high waterfalls Here is the voice that I yearn for A voice that calls out to me.

OLI KOMO ʻOHUʻOHU MĀNOA For the 2007 Graduating Class of the William S. Richardson School of Law in response to the Oli Kāhea Wewehi Mānoa Na Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie ʻOhuʻohu Mānoa i ka ua Tuahine Onaona i ka lei hala me ka lauaʻe Palipali nō ke ala i Waiakeakua A hiki mai nō ʻoukou Eia no ka uku lā, o ka leo A he leo wale nō e E komo ma loko nei me ke aloha Aloha e

Adorned is Mānoa in the Tuahine rain Fragrant with the lei of hala and lauaʻe The path is steep to Waiakeakua (But) you all have arrived Here is the reward, the voice A voice indeed (simply the voice) Come and enter with aloha

As we prepare to leave the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law and enter the next chapter of our lives and careers, these oli symbolize our request for permission to step forward, and the response granting us entry with aloha. Wewehi Mānoa describes the beautiful mist of Mānoa, and ʻOhuʻohu Mānoa welcomes us in, symbolizing both our deep connection to this place and the guidance we carry with us as we move forward.

We extend our deepest mahalo to Līhau Hannahs Paik for generously allowing the Class of 2026 to perform Wewehi Mānoa, and to Professor Emerita Melody MacKenzie for offering the oli komo she wrote in response to Līhau's oli back in 2007. We would also like to mahalo Professor Uʻilani Tanigawa Lum for joining Professor MacKenzie in the oli komo, and for taking time out of her busy schedule to teach the group.

HULA RAIN TUAHINE O MĀNOA Composed by Juliana Walanika Paka The mele chosen is Rain Tuahine O Mānoa, composed by Julia Walanika. The class would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Aunty Kuʻulei Akaka of Hālau Hiʻilaniwaialoha, who has graciously choreographed the hula to this mele for this year's commencement.

Wehiwehi nei pua na‘u e kui Ke kīpona ‘ia me ka ma‘o A he pua kapu ia na ka manu Na ka ‘i‘iwi pōlena o ka uka

I string these flowers as an adornment Intensified by the cotton shrub It is a flower beloved by birds By the ‘i‘wi bird of the uplands

Hui: Kaulana ē ka ua i Wa‘ahila I ka hehi i ke oho o ke pili Ho okahi nō ‘oe o laila Me ka rain Tuahine o Mānoa

So famous is the rain at Wa‘ahila As it gently falls against the pili grass And you are there In the Tuahine rain of Mānoa

Ho okahi a‘u mea uluhua Ke ka‘upu inu wai o Lehua Ke kala hele nei ka ‘ūlili A ‘o nēia lā mālie

There is but one thing that vexes me The albatross that drinks the water of Lehua The freedom of the sandpiper And the beauty of this calm day

Hui: Kaulana ē ka ua i Wa‘ahila I ka hehi i ke oho o ke pili Ho okahi nō ‘oe o laila Me ka rain Tuahine o Mānoa

So famous is the rain at Wa‘ahila As it gently falls against the pili grass And you are there In the Tuahine rain of Mānoa

Me ka rain Tuahine o Mānoa Me ka rain Tuahine o Mānoa

In the Tuahine rain of Mānoa In the Tuahine rain of Mānoa

HAWAI‘I ALOHA Written by Lorenzo Lyons E Hawai‘i e ku‘u one hānau ē Ku‘u home kulāiwi nei ‘Oli nō au i nā pono lani ou E Hawai‘i, aloha ē!

O Hawai‘i sands of my birth My native homeland I rejoice in the blessings of heaven O Hawai‘i, aloha

HUI E hau‘oli e nā ‘ōpio o Hawai‘i nei ‘Oli ē! ‘Oli ē!

Mai nā aheahe makani e pā mai nei Mau ke aloha no Hawai‘i

CHORUS Happy, youth of Hawai‘i Rejoice! Rejoice!

From the gentle breezes that blow Love always for Hawai‘i

LEI GIVING MAP

A Legacy of Developing Ethical Leaders The William S. Richardson School of Law is a collaborative, multicultural community preparing students for excellence in the practice of law and related careers that advance justice and the rule of law. We develop highly qualified, ethical professionals through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and public service.

We embrace Hawai‘i’s diversity and values and recognize a special responsibility to our state and the Pacific region.

Core Values

kuleana

mālama kekahi i kekahi

nā‘au pono

kūpale

aloha aku, aloha mai

ho‘owaiwai

huli ao

no‘eau

to care for one another

to accept responsibility and the privilege of having responsibility

to defend and protect; to strongly advocate

to foster a deep sense of justice or balance; what is appropriate

to create wealth and well-being for the community

to respect and to receive respect

to become a skilled expert; to achieve excellence

to strive for enlightenment; to seek out knowledge

Vision A community of creative problem solvers, effective advocates, and courageous leaders who seek justice.

SUPPORT THE NEXT 50 YEARS

OF LEGAL EDUCATION Your generosity supports the next generation of law students at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law to lead and serve our communities.

Scan to make a difference today.

In his address to the inaugural Class of 1976, Chief Justice William S. Richardson proclaimed that “the future of the law school is important to the future of Hawaiʻi.”

Today, we celebrate our graduates – the next generation of advocates and leaders who carry this vision forward. We remain deeply grateful for Chief Justice Richardson’s legacy and for your steadfast support of our students, our alumni, and the William S. Richardson School of Law.

2515 Dole Street, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822-2350 law.hawaii.edu