Mission

The Mission of the Hawaii State Bar Association is to unite and inspire Hawaii's lawyers to promote justice, serve the public and improve the legal profession.

Goals

Goal 1: To develop and maintain an effective, democratic organizational structure to serve the needs of the members, the Judiciary and the public.

• Objective 1: Improve structure and organization.
• Objective 2: Improve communications with members and related entities.
• Objective 3: Improve member involvement.
• Objective 4: Improve Bar/Judiciary relationship.
• Objective 5: Improve communications with the public.
• Objective 6: Increase public involvement. 

Goal 2: To promote the integrity and competency of lawyers in Hawaii.

• Objective 1: Increase the legal skill and knowledge of attorneys.
• Objective 2: Improve practice management and client relations skills of attorneys.
• Objective 3: To assist lawyers in achieving a balanced professional, personal and public life.
• Objective 4: To promote professional responsibility, courtesy, and civility in the practice of law.

Goal 3: To eliminate unfair bias, prejudice and discrimination and to create meaningful opportunities for underrepresented groups in the legal system.

• Objective 1: Study, education, and motive the bar regarding the issue of gender and ethnic fairness.
• Objective 2: Educate the public regarding their legal rights when faced with discrimination.
• Objective 3: Increase the meaningful participation of under-represented groups in all areas of the legal profession and system.
• Objective 4: Promote Model Affirmative Action Policy.

Goal 4: To educate the public about legal rights and responsibilities, the legal process, and the role and responsibility of lawyers.

• Objective 1: Educate the public about legal rights and responsibilities.
• Objective 2: Educate the public about the legal process.
• Objective 3: Educate the public about the role and responsibility of lawyers.

Goal 5: To increase the availability of quality legal services to all who need them.

• Objective 1: Streamline referrals to various legal service organizations and educate attorneys and staff about how to make appropriate referrals.
• Objective 2: Provide immediate relevant legal information to members of the public with legal questions.
• Objective 3: Increase the number of voluntary attorneys providing pro bono hours on the annual Attorney Registration Statement.
• Objective 4: Encourage and support partnering between existing legal service organizations, and coordination to avoid overlap and define areas of duties and responsibilities.

Goal 6: To advance the equitable and efficient administration of justice.

• Objective 1: Increase the bar's participation in judicial selection, evaluation, and retention.
• Objective 2: Promote alternative dispute resolution.
• Objective 3: Assist the Judiciary improving the court system.

Goal 7: To recognition and address the needs and problems of lawyer on each island.

• Objective 1: Support neighbor island bar associations.
• Objective 2: Increase the participation of neighbor island members on boards and committees.