News & Events
We are Hawaii’s oldest and largest non-profit law firm, dedicated to assisting the low- to moderate-income community. Our mission is to achieve fairness and justice for Hawaii’s people through quality legal representation, advocacy, advice, community partnerships, education and outreach.
Established in 1950, Legal Aid has nine offices statewide, and over 80 staff members (attorneys, paralegals, and administrative personnel) all dedicated to achieving Legal Aid’s vision of “Building a Just Society.” Legal Aid responds to inquiries from approximately 19,000 individuals each year, and an estimated 8,000 of those individuals receive legal services ranging from advice and counsel to full representation.
Legal Aid is a proud member of the Access to Justice Hui, which recently released the first civil legal needs assessment in 14 years.
To download the ACCESS TO JUSTICE REPORT
To download a GENERAL BROCHURE about LEGAL AID
LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION ADVOCATE & CLIENT
SELF-HELP
MATERIALS
To access over 120 self-help resource materials
to assist you with your non-criminal legal needs,
primarily in the areas of Housing, Affordable Housing,
Family,
Consumer, and Public Benefits Law.
Aloha and welcome to the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii’s website. Legal Aid has been servicing the people of Hawaii since 1950, and is dedicated to providing free legal services for Hawaii’s low-income communities.
With nine offices on each of the major Hawaiian islands, Legal Aid is the largest legal service provider in the state. Though the effort to increase access to justice for all Hawaii’s people can be challenging, Legal Aid strives to give you as much information as possible to help you even when our staff cannot.
This site is designed to provide you with suggested information about legal issues so that you may be able to solve your legal concerns on your own. We have links and brochures to help you Housing, Fair Housing, Consumer, Family, and Public Benefits. If there is something specific you are looking for, please try using the “search button” at the top of the main page.
You may also find information about our eligibility requirements for free legal services from Legal Aid and how to contact our staff to receive assistance.
Please be aware that Legal Aid has seen an increase in the demand for our free services over the last few months, but do not let that deter you from contacting us. Just be advised that, due to the significant rise in the demand for our help, you may face additional wait times when calling.
You may, however, use the information on this site and our sister site www.lawhelp.org/hi in a number of ways, 24-hours a day.
Mahalo nui loa,
M. Nalani Fujimori
Interim Executive Director
Legal Aid's STAFF FORUM
(members only)
To view Legal Aid's 2006-07 Annual Report
To view Legal Aid's 2007-08 Annual Report
Volunteers are an integral part of our ability to provide services. The Legal Aid Society is always looking for attorneys, students seeking internships, and people just willing to help during their free time.
To inquire about VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i has utilized its skill, ability and knowledge to bring high quality legal services to people throughout the state. As a community-based, nonprofit law firm, Legal Aid is known for its advocacy skills and ability to empower low-income and disadvantaged people.
Click on the bullets below for some real life cases we've won.
- “Being permanently disabled, I don’t know what I’ll do without you!”
- “The attorney who helped me was very professional and helped me win both of my cases. I’m very grateful for them. I now have custody of my daughter!”
- “Mahalo for offering services to the Seniors. I was very impressed with the documents of Advanced Directive and Power of Attorney.”
- “She was very kind to me. I can’t speak English but she used the translator on the phone so we can contact very well. Thank you so much for helping me. I am so happy.”
- “Rhoda Brown is a fantastic asset to your staff. I would have not received my Social Security Insurance without her expertise and caring manner..."
- “It’s been a huge help for my life and I’m very thankful that I met Legal Aid.”
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The purpose of the intake Hotline is to provide easy access to services at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. Primarily, our clients can apply for services through our toll-fee state-wide phone service, which operates during the following times:
MONDAY - FRIDAY
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the morning, and
1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon
HOTLINE NUMBERS:
536-4302 on OAHU, or
1-800-499-4302 on the NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
To see if you QUALIFY for Legal Aid services
Your donation goes a long way.
$25 helps us ensure that a frail, elderly individual receives the benefits
needed to sustain daily life.
$50 helps us assist a disabled individual in obtaining Social Security
payments to which they are entitled.
$100 helps to prevent wrongful eviction of a family from their home.
$175 helps a battered victim flee from abuse & stabilizes her life
in a safe environment.
$250
helps us place an abused child into a loving, permanent, adoptive home.
$500 helps to prevent seniors from mortgage and loan scams.
$750 allows us to expand services to communities in need.
$1000+
helps us ensure access to justice for all.
To mail a donation of any amount
To sign up for our MAILING LIST
NEW SITES - To keep up with rapid technological change and to increase our presence on the world wide web, Legal Aid has joined the likes of Greenpeace, Oxfam, Amnesty International and many more and started Myspace and Facebook Pages.
To friend us on MYSPACE, visit:
www.myspace.com/legalaidhawaii
To friend us on TWITTER, visit:
www.twitter.com/legalaidhawaii
To join our FACEBOOK GROUP
The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii is a United Way agency
and partially funded by The Legal Services Corporation