Volunteer Attorney Assistance Program Expanding to Kona

A program will get underway next month in Kona to provide persons representing themselves in civil legal matters with professional help.

Beginning on Oct. 2, at least one attorney from the West Hawaii Bar Association will be available at the law library of the Keakealani courthouse in Kealakekua on Wednesdays, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., to assist the pro se litigants.

A ceremony will be held at the Keakealani courthouse at 11:45 a.m. Monday to officially launch the program.

Hawai`i Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald. Judiciary photo.

Those scheduled to participate include Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Hawai`i Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, Third Circuit Chief Judge Ronald Ibarra, Hawaii State Bar Association President Craig Wagnild and West Hawaii Bar Association President Robert Borns.

The volunteer attorneys will provide legal information on District Court and Family Court matters including landlord-tenant disputes, collection issues, temporary restraining orders and divorce.

There will be no charge for their services.

The volunteer attorney assistance program has been operating at Hilo’s Hale Kaulike courthouse since mid-2012, and is also in place at courthouses on Oahu, Maui and Kauai.

The program is a joint effort of the Hawaii State Judiciary, Hawaii State and Hawaii County Bar Associations, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and the Access to Justice Commission.