William S. Richardson School of Law

09/08/2026

⚠️ UH updates operational status for Hurricane Lowell:

〰️ Oʻahu Campuses: Closed Tuesday, September 8. All classes canceled; non-essential staff stay home.

〰️ Kauai Community College: Closed Tuesday, September 8 (previously announced).

Stay safe and check your UH email or RAVE alerts for updates.

09/02/2026

We recently welcomed the new class to Richardson Law at Orientation 2026! 📚🌈

Students got to meet their classmates, professors, law school staff and got a glimpse into what’s ahead. We are wishing the new class all the best and can’t wait to see all that they do here at Richardson!

Full photo gallery: flic.kr/s/aHBqjD3xUb

08/28/2026

Meet the newest cohort of the William S. Richardson School of Law! 🌴⚖️

We're proud to welcome our largest class in school history: 161 students representing 27 states/territories and four countries, selected from a record 1,936 applicants.

"We welcomed the largest applicant pool in our history and, from that incredibly competitive pool, assembled our strongest cohorts in more than two decades," said Tyler Cegler, Director of Enrollment Management.

Welcome to the Richardson Law ʻohana! 🤙

Read the full story: https://law.hawaii.edu/32123/

08/26/2026

Our 1L’s got to learn about getting involved at the annual Student Organization Fair. Mahalo to the Student Bar Association (SBA) for hosting another great one!

08/24/2026

Welcome back, students! 📚🌺

Whether you’re walking into your very first class of law school or your last first day, we’re glad you’re here. Richardson Law wishes you the best of luck as you start a new semester. Let’s make it a great one!

08/04/2026

Counting down the days until our students are back on campus 📚🌈

Soon we’ll be welcoming our incoming class for orientation, with returning students not far behind. Can’t wait for Richardson to be full and alive again!

07/28/2026

For five decades, Professor Williamson "Bill" Chang has shaped generations of lawyers, scholars, and community leaders across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. He joined the Richardson Law faculty in 1976 and has spent his career advancing justice, Indigenous rights, constitutional law, and the legal and political history of Hawaiʻi, becoming one of the most influential voices in Hawaiʻi legal education along the way. His pioneering scholarship on Native Hawaiian sovereignty, self-determination, and land rights helped shape public discourse across the state, and his courses on legal ethics, water law, Native Hawaiian rights, and international law became foundational experiences for countless students.

More than 4,000 students have passed through the law school during his tenure. In his own words: "I cannot imagine a life better spent."

The Richardson ʻohana extends its heartfelt gratitude to Professor Chang for fifty years of dedication and leadership.

Read his full story: https://law.hawaii.edu/31878/

07/25/2026

Our recent graduates will soon sit for the bar exam. Before they do, Dean Camille Nelson, Associate Dean Troy Andrade, and Associate Dean Shari Larsen wanted to share a quick message.

You’ve put in the work. We believe in you.

Good luck to all of our bar takers. We’re cheering you on! 💚

07/16/2026

This summer, Richardson Law welcomed international visiting students for Introduction to U.S. Law, a three-week course in the fundamentals of the American legal system, from common law reasoning to civil litigation.

Beyond the classroom, students argued a mock case in the Richardson Law Moot Courtroom, toured Aliʻiōlani Hale, home of the Hawaiʻi State Supreme Court, and sat down with alumna Justice Sabrina McKenna to talk legal careers in the U.S.

“The students were wonderful in sharing their perspectives and drawing comparisons with how their home jurisdictions approach common issues,” said Professor Richard Chen, who taught the course.

We’re excited for this program to return next summer! 🌺⚖️

07/07/2026

What does federal law actually say about Native Hawaiians? Professor Derek Kauanoe ‘08 joined KHON2’s What’s the Law to break it down, from the distinction between a racial group and an indigenous people with trust-related obligations, to how the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom shapes these questions today.

Prof. Kauanoe teaches legal writing, federal Indian law, and torts. His scholarly research interests focus on Indigenous self-determination and self-governance, with his work focusing on Native Hawaiians and Indigenous communities.

Watch or read the full conversation: https://www.khon2.com/whats-the-law/native-hawaiians-federal-whats-the-law/amp/

Derek Kauanoe, Assistant Professor at the William S. Richardson School of Law joins producer/host Coralie Chun Matayoshi to discuss how Native Hawaiians are understood under federal law, whether Co…