The Hilo Self-Help Center, a partnership between the Hawaii State Judiciary, the Hawaii State Bar Association, the Hawaii County Bar Association and Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, is resuming its in-person service on Tuesdays.
Anyone seeking legal information may drop by Hale Kaulike, the Hilo Courthouse (first floor), located at 777 Kilauea Ave. from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
No appointments are needed; the public will be seen on a first come, first served basis. Fridays will remain remotely operated from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. via telephone.
“We are happy to finally physically open our intake as we come out of the pandemic,”Legal Aid Senior Staff Attorney Jessica “Jaycee” Uchida said in a press release. “Meeting in person allows the volunteer attorney to have a more ‘hands on’ approach and allows them to more easily review documents or show the person seeking legal information the right court forms to fill out, if necessary.”
Jacky Mena, Hawaii County Bar Association managing liaison, welcomes the opportunity to personally interact with the community again. “The HCBA and its volunteer attorneys have a strong history of service and dedication to our East Hawaii community,” she said.
“Resuming in-person services provides self-represented litigants with a wider range of resources in one centralized location,” Mena said
“For example, an individual can meet with an attorney, access printed court forms, resource documents, court records, and submit filings while at the Hale Kaulike courthouse. While many of these resources are available online, many people do not have access to computers and printers, and coming to the courthouse gives them easy access to printed materials.
In addition, in-person services allow individuals to show relevant documents to the volunteer attorney which facilitates more efficient and effective service.”
The public is strongly advised to arrive early to secure a place in line. The Self-Help Center was originally created to help self-represented civil litigants obtain easier access to justice and legal services.
The Self-Help Center transitioned to online services during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the services going.
Members of the community who prefer to contact the Hilo Self-Help Center via telephone can call on Fridays during operating hours at (808) 909-2845.
A voicemail can be left after listening to the prerecorded message. An AmeriCorps Advocate will call back to finish the intake process.
