|
George
C. Munro Award for Environmental Law
This
award was established by the Hawai‘i Audubon Society in
memory of George C. Munro for his pioneering work in protecting
Hawai‘i's native wildlife. The cash award is given annually
for the highest grade in the Environmental Law course. |
Environmental
Law Society Summer Grant
The
No Ke ‘Ola o ka ‘Āina summer grant, offered by the student-run
Environmental Law Society, is a competitive award up to
$2,000 that funds a student's summer clerkship with an environmental
public interest or governmental organization. |
Natural
Resources Section Hawai'i State Bar Diversity Fellowship
The
Natural Resources Section (NRS) of the Hawai‘i State Bar
Association offers summer grants through the “Diversity
Fellowship in Environmental Law,” funded up to $5000 by
the NRS and the ABA Section on Environment, Energy, and
Resources (SEER). |
|
Alston
Hunt Floyd & Ing Second-Year-Seminar Award
The
law firm of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing gives a cash award
each year to the best Environmental Law paper from the Second-Year
Seminar course. |
Linnel
Nishioka Environmental Law Summer Fellowship
This fellowship offered by Hawaiian Electric
Company is designed to give students an opportunity to explore
the growing "in house" field of corporate environmental
law in Hawai`i.
|
Elizabeth
Sharpe Fish & Wildlife Law Fellowship
The Sharpe Fellowship supports students
seeking to explore career opportunities with the Fish &
Wildlife Service in areas of particular importance to Hawai'i,
including the connection between protected species and indigenous
communities. |
|
Dept.
of Land and Natural Resources Marine Law Summer Internship
Thanks to the generous support
of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, and in partnership
with the State Department of Land and Natural Resources
(DLNR) and the Attorney General's office, ELP is offering
this summer internship for a 1L or 2L student to work at
the DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources on coral reef enforcement
issues. |
Dept.
of Land and Natural Resources Marine Law Fellowship
The DLNR Marine Law Fellowship
is a one-year fellowship open to recent graduates, made
possible by the support of NOAA/DLNR's FLASH program, and
is part of a continuing partnership between ELP, the Attorney
General's Office, the Director of DLNR, the Division of
Aquatic Resources, and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation. |
Jarman
Summer Environmental Law Fellowship
This summer fellowship is
available to 1Ls interested in public sector environmental
law careers. The fellowship is made possible by generous
ELP alumni, faculty, and friends who started growing the
UHF Jarman Endowment over four years ago with the twin
goals of honoring Professor Jarman, who founded ELP in
1988, and of providing new support to our students interested
in public service.
|
| Environmental
Law Program
Travel Grants
ELP provides travel grants
for students wishing to attend exciting environmental law
conferences throughout the country. |
Don't forget to also check our Career
Resources page for other summer
employment and internship opportunities!
George
C. Munro Award for Environmental Law
This
award was established by the Hawai‘i Audubon Society in memory
of George C. Munro for his pioneering work in protecting Hawai‘i's
native wildlife. The cash award is given annually for the highest
grade in the Environmental Law course.
2008
-
Greg Shimokawa
2007 - Liula
Kotaki, Evan Silberstein, and Virginia Tice (tied)
2006 - Kamaile
Nichols
2005 - Bradley
Davis
2004 - Koalani
Kaulukukui
2003 - Jennifer
C. Carpenter
2002 - Paul Herran
2001 - Kathryn
Opedal
2000 - Jamie
Tanabe
1999 - Adrienne
Yoshihara
1998 - Paul Tanaka
1997 - Robert
Albrecht
1996 - Kimberley
Wong
1995 - Garrick
Goo
1994 - Blake
Oshiro
1991 - Pamela Bunn
1990 - Madalyn Purcell
1989 - Reginald Gooding
1988 - Linda
Paul
1987 - Michael
Reveal
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No
Ke ‘Ola o ka ‘Āina (For the Life of the Land), Environmental Law
Society Grant
The
No Ke ‘Ola o ka ‘Āina summer grant, offered by the student-run
Environmental Law Society, is a competitive award up to $2,000
that funds a student's summer clerkship with an environmental
public interest or governmental organization. Click
here to view the application form (Due April 8, 2009).
2009 - Charlie
Taylor,
Class of 2011, Life of the Land
|
|
“This
summer I was awarded the Environmental Law Society's summer
grant to work with a non-profit group working on environmental
issues affecting Hawaii. The grant afforded me the opportunity
to work with Henry Curtis of Life of the Land Hawaii researching
a cutting edge alternative energy project, hopefully helping
the state of Hawaii reduce its dependence on foreign oil.
. . . Overall, the work I did with Life of the Land was extremely
satisfying and intellectually challenging and I am very appreciative
to have gotten the opportunity to do such cutting edge work.
The Environmental Law summer grant was a tremendous help in
allowing me to take a volunteer position at such an interesting
non-profit group.” – Charlie Taylor |
2008 - Leslie
Cole-Brooks,
Class of 2010, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration
(NOAA)
 |
“In
the short time I worked at NOAA, I gained lots of real world
experience. I wrote eight “NOVAs” (Notice of Violation and
Assessment of civil penalty) for violations of both the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Endangered
Species Act. The cases involved “takes” of an endangered Hawaiian
monk seal, a threatened green sea turtle, an approach violation
of a humpback whale, a shark finning case, and several violations
involving lapsed fishing permits and failure to turn in fishing
logs. I also compiled two PPIPs (Preliminary Position on Issues
and Procedures—a sort of mini discovery document), and drafted
direct examination questions for two witnesses for a trial.
. . . I also had the chance to listen in on a pre-trial conference
with an administrative law judge, the prosecutor, and the
respondent, and have also heard two settlement negotiations.
I attended several meetings, ranging in topics from administration
and organization of the VMS program (vessel monitoring system)
to monk seal volunteer trainings. I highly recommend intern/externing
for NOAA office of general counsel for any student interested
in environmental law.” – Leslie Cole-Brooks |
2007
- Sunny Greer, Class
of 2009, Trust for Public Land
2006
- Matt Snow, Class
of 2008, State of Hawai‘i Attorney General’s Office (client: State
Department of Health)
| “I
gained invaluable experience by volunteering for the Attorney
General's Office. I was involved in a big environmental case,
doing research, writing memos, and going to meetings. I got
to see how administrative law and settlement negotiations
work in practice. Ted Bohlen was a great mentor and everyone
else in the office was very helpful and nice. Mahalo to ELS
for the grant, which made it possible!” – Matt Snow |
2005 - Grant Arnold,
Class of 2007, North Shore Community Land Trust
2004 - Camille
Kalama, Class of 2006
2003 - Martha Townsend,
Class of 2005
2002 - Crystal
Glendon, Class of 2004
2001 - Nathan Roehrig,
Class of 2003
2000 - Robert Harris,
Class of 2002, First ELS grant recipient, Hawai‘i Attorney General's
Office
| “The
grant program offers an exciting opportunity to see first-hand
Hawai‘i’s environmental laws at work and complemented my coursework
in law school. I was directly involved in enforcement cases,
working side-by-side with the top government attorneys in
the state.” – Robert Harris |
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Natural
Resources Section (NRS) Hawai'i State Bar Association Diversity
Fellowship
The
Natural Resources Section (NRS) of the Hawai‘i State Bar Association
offers summer grants through the “Diversity Fellowship in Environmental
Law,” funded up to $5000 by the NRS and the ABA Section on Environment,
Energy, and Resources (SEER). Click
here
to view the application form (Due April 24, 2009).
Here are the prior grant recipients and their stories:
2009 - Andrea
Aseff, 3L at University of Colorado
Boulder School of Law.
2008 - Sunny
Greer, Class of 2009: Earthjustice (Honolulu)
| 
Sunny Greer (second from right) with co-workers
|
“I am very grateful to
have been the recipient of the 2008 Diversity Fellowship
in Environmental Law, which was generously funded by the
ABA Section of Environment, Energy, & Resources and
the Natural Resources Section of the Hawai'i State Bar Association.
My summer fellowship at the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation
involved extensive legal research on issues affecting controversial
development projects from Kauai to the Big Island. By the
end of my fellowship, I completed six memos, attended four
administrative and community meetings, and worked with a
legal team that just took my analytical and writing skills
to a higher level. My summer was awesome!”
–
Sunny Greer |
2007 - Aarin
Gross, Class of 2008: Earthjustice (Honolulu)
 |
"The NRS fellowship allowed
me to devote my 2L summer to environmental public interest
work as a summer clerk for Earthjustice. It was an invaluable
opportunity to participate in important public trust litigation,
as well as assist with ongoing agency action challenges and
case investigations for potential citizen suits. I worked
closely with the some of the most talented environmental litigation
attorneys in Honolulu, and was given many opportunities to
pick their brains about law school, career paths, and how
to find a balance between work and family. I gained new skills,
made new friends, and got some great recommendations. It was
a fantastic opportunity." –
Aarin Gross |
2006
- Steve Tom,
Class of 2008: City and County of Honolulu, Department of Corporation
Counsel
 |
“The
ABA fellowship was a great opportunity to gain experience
in the environmental law field and earn money as a 1L (first
year law student). I worked full-time for nine weeks at Honolulu's
Corporation Counsel, assisting attorneys who advise the City's
Department of Environmental Services. During my summer, Deputy
Corporation Counsel Paul Herran, recent ELP alum, supervised
my work on solid waste, clean water, and wastewater treatment
issues. Paul was vital to my understanding of complex legal
issues, improving my writing, and meeting people in the field.
To top it off, I had the opportunity to visit a sewage pumping
station while on the job!!” – Steve Tom |
2005 - Matthew
Kupono Carr, School of Law at UC Davis, Earthjustice,
Mid-Pacific (Honolulu) Office
2004
- Koalani Kaulukukui,
Class of 2006: State Dept of Land and Natural Resources, Office
of the Director (Honolulu)
2003
- Beau Bassett,
Class of 2005: Commission on Water Resource Management, State
of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (Honolulu)
& Nathan Kanale Sadowski,
Class of 2005: Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (Honolulu)
2002
- Jill Raznov, Class
of 2004: Nature Conservancy in Honolulu
2001
- Le‘a Malia Kanehe,
Class of 2003: Nā Koa Ikaika o Ka Lāhui Hawai‘i (Hilo) & Shirley
N.K. Garcia, Class of 2003: Commission on Water
Resource Management, State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural
Resources (Honolulu)
2000
- R.
Hokulei Lindsey
, Class of 2002: DLNR, Office of the Director and Water Commission
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Alston
Hunt Floyd & Ing Second-Year-Seminar Award
The
law firm of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing gives
a cash award each year to the best Environmental Law paper from
the Second-Year Seminar course.
Past
grantees were:
2009 - TBA
2008
- Wayne Tanaka
2007 - Cameron Black
- China and Hazardous Waste
2006 - Richelle
Thomson – State Tax Credits for Conservation Easements:
Twelve States' Efforts to Encourage Private Land Conservation
2005 - Koalani
Kaulukukui – Establishing an Environmental Court
in Hawai‘i: Lessons from the Environmental Courts of the United
States
2004 - Chistopher
Cox
2003 - David Paulson
2002 - Jessie Schiel
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Linnel
Nishioka Environmental Law Summer Fellowship
The Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (HECO) created the Linnel
Nishioka Environmental Law Summer Fellowship in 2007 in memory
of a prominent Honolulu attorney who served Hawai`i’s environmental
bar with excellence, warmth, and dedication for many years.
The Nishioka Fellowship promotes opportunities for WSRSL students
to explore career options in the "in-house"/business
sector of environmental law in Hawai`i.
2009 - Melissa
Farris,
Class of 2010, Hawaiian Electric Company
|
Melissa (second from left) with General Counsel at HECO
|
“From
my very first day on the job, it was evident that my experience
at HECO would be unforgettable. Within in minutes of arriving
at the office, my supervisor and I set out for a field trip
to a proposed substation site to scope out the area for
any potential hazards. This first impression of my fellowship
experience set the tone for the diverse learning opportunities
I would encounter throughout the summer. In particular,
the Nishioka Fellowship was foundational in illuminating
the compliance sector of environmental law, highlighting
the unique role of in-house corporate counsel, and developing
my skills as a budding lawyer.” – Melissa Farris |
2008 - Noah
Gibson,
Class of 2010, Hawaiian Electric Company
 |
“This
summer I worked with HECO, thanks to the Linnel Nishioka
Environmental Law Summer Fellowship in memory of a prominent
Honolulu attorney who served Hawai'i's environmental bar
with excellence, warmth, and dedication for many years.
I worked with the environmental compliance division of HECO's
Legal Department, on issues such as air and water quality
permits, hazardous waste regulations, habitat conservation,
bio-fuels, renewable energy credits and renewable energy
sources in general. It was a wonderful opportunity to work
with Steve Oppenhiemer, who teaches a hazardous waste course
at WSRSL, and see what he does on a daily basis. Being exposed
to so many different aspects of energy production and its
connection and interaction with the environment was amazing.”–
Noah Gibson |
2007
- Cameron Black,
Class of 2008, Hawaiian Electric Company
 |
"Working
in an in-house counsel environment was a fantastic experience.
Not only did I enjoy the methods of operation and nature
of the work, but also the closeness among the entire staff.
The camaraderie within HECO’s Legal Department made it easy
to feel part of the group, something I appreciated deeply.
. . .Every lawyer in the Department took time to speak with
me, get to know more about me than my professional goals,
and answer the many questions I had about life after school."
– Cameron Black |
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Elizabeth
Sharpe Fish and Wildlife Law Fellowship
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Ka Huli Ao Center
for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, and ELP began offering
this fellowship in 2009 in memory of Elizabeth Sharpe, a 2003
graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law and Environmental
Law Certificate recipient. This fellowship honors her commitment
to environmental protection through government service. The
Sharpe Fellowship supports students seeking to explore career
opportunities with the FWS in areas of particular importance
to Hawai'i, including the connection between protected species
and indigenous communities.
2009 - Leslie
Cole-Brooks,
Class of 2010, and Tiffany
Chiang,
Class of 2010
 |
“The
fellowship sponsored a ten-week internship with Fish and
Wildlife, and I spent six weeks in Honolulu with ecological
services, and then opted for a four week stay in Washington
D.C. with FWS’s legislative affairs. My internship with
FWS exceeded my expectations on every level, and I would
highly recommend it to any student interested in pursuing
environmental law. In Honolulu, I worked with the recovery
team at ecological services, and saw first-hand the special
difficulties that endangered species face here in Hawai'i.
I reviewed and helped edit five-year reviews and recovery
plans, and had the chance to accompany biologists in the
field to investigate possible ESA violations. In Washington
D.C., witnessed first-hand the legislative process as it
relates to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and I honed
my research skills by helping to update and summarize key
natural resource legislation available for public use on
the FWS website.” – Leslie Cole-Brooks |
 |
“I
would definitely encourage others to apply for this fellowship.
I was able to further FWS’ mission of environmental conservation,
join FWS’ extremely welcoming and encouraging ’ohana, and
gain exposure to a vast spectrum of the agency’s functions,
responsibilities, and internal operations. In addition to
sharpening my legal research skills, I also made field visits
with a FWS law enforcement officer, and was assigned to
go to “the Hill” on several occasions to attend congressional
hearings or internal meetings that discussed upcoming bills
relevant to the Fish and Wildlife Service. It was the highlight
of my summer to be exposed to, and witness the congressional
and legislative process at the heart of our nation’s capitol.
It is an experience that has shown me the benefits, challenges,
and importance of the democratic process in developing federal
laws that aim to carry out national policy while respecting
state sovereignty. This fellowship has certainly been a
highly influential experience, and one of my most memorable
summers.”
–
Tiffany Chiang |
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Department
of Land and Natural Resources Marine Law Summer Internship
Thanks to the generous support of the Harold
K.L. Castle Foundation, and in partnership with the State Department
of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the Attorney General's
office, ELP begain offering this summer internship in 2009 for
a 1L or 2L student to work at the DLNR's Division of Aquatic
Resources on coral reef enforcement issues.
2009 - Laura
Chen Allen,
Class of 2011
|
|
"During
my time at DAR I conducted the initial legal background
research on issues that effect Hawai'i’s reefs and gathered
information to help guide DAR staff while proposing new
rules or legislation. I researched many other jurisdictions
including other states, U.S. territories, and countries,
which involved telephone and e-mail correspondence with
members of similar departments in many parts of the world.
I also had the opportunity to utilize skills from my previous
background in academic research, incorporating interviews
and statistical analysis of raw biological data into legal
memoranda. I felt as though I both made a meaningful contribution
to coral reef protection in Hawai'i and improved my legal
skills. The staff members at DAR were passionate and supportive
and I hope that I will be able to continue to contribute
to their work in the future.” – Laura Chen Allen |
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Department
of Land and Natural Resources Marine Law Fellowship
The State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Marine
Law Fellowship is a one-year fellowship open to third-year students
graduating and recent graduates. The DLNR Marine Law Fellowship
is funded with generous support from the Harold K.L. Castle
Foundation and NOAA/DLNR’s Fisheries Local Action Strategy (FLASH)
program, administered by the Environmental Law Program (ELP)/Law
School, and carried out in partnership with DLNR-Division of
Aquatic Resources (DAR), and the State Attorney General’s Office.
Click
here to view additional application materials (Due
March 9, 2009).
2009 - Wayne
Tanaka,
Class of 2009
2008 - Kamaile
Nichols,
Class of 2008
2006 - Blaine
Rogers,
Class of 2006
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Jarman Summer Environmental Law Fellowship
This summer fellowship is available to 1Ls interested
in public sector environmental law careers. The fellowship is
made possible by generous ELP alumni, faculty, and friends who
started growing the UHF Jarman Endowment over four years ago
with the twin goals of honoring Professor Jarman, who founded
ELP in 1988, and of providing new support to our students interested
in public service.
This inaugural (2009) grant pays $3000 for a student to spend
a 6-week summer with a government or public interest group in
Hawai`i doing environmental law and policy work. Click
here to view additional application materials (Due
April 15, 2009).
2009 - Stewart
Yerton,
Class of 2011, KAHEA
|
|
“Thanks
to the Environmental Law Program, I was able to spend my
first summer in law school doing real, meaningful legal
work -- and getting paid to do it. First, the program introduced
me to a local environmental attorney through the program's
Enviromentors dinner, and that led to a summer job working
for the non-profit organization where my mentor is a staff
attorney. Next, the program provided a fellowship that granted
a stipend to support my doing public interest environmental
work. As a result, I was able to delve into a number of
issues, including Hawaiian monk seal protections, land-use
law and Hawaiian sacred spaces, and environmental justice
in Waianae. The highlight of the summer was helping to draft
a memo that served as the foundation of a lawsuit seeking
greater protection of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National
Monument, which is the single largest conservation area
under the U.S. flag and one of the largest marine conservation
areas in the world. For students interested in environmental
law, it is hard to imagine a program that offers more opportunities
and hands-on support.” – Stewart Yerton |
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ELP
Travel Grants
ALI-ABA
Annual Environmental Law Conference
With
funding from alumni and other donors, the ELP sends students to
Washington, D.C. to the ALI-ABA Annual Environmental Law Conference
held in February of each year. This practitioners’ conference
is widely attended by leading government and private environmental
attorneys.
2009
- Virginia Tice,
Class of 2009, was selected to attend the 39th American Legal
Institute – American Bar Association Environmental Law Course
of Study, cosponsored by the Environmental Law Institute and The
Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, DC on February 4-6, 2009.
2008
- Kamaile Nichols,
Class of 2008
Western
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
The Wayne C. Gagne Memorial Award provides funding for
an officer of the Environmental Law Society or other ELP students
to attend the Western Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
(WPIELC) held each March at the University of Oregon School of
Law.
2009 - Ryan
Keesey and
Jacquelyn Tryon Esser (Class
of 2009)
2006
- Michael Dahilig,
Erin Prahler, Blaine
Rogers, and Koa
Kaulukukui (Class of 2006)
Other
Law Conferences
The
Pohaku Fund of the Tides Foundation has supported ELP
student travel to other cutting-edge conferences, such as the
Rocky Mountain Annual Land Use Institute (RMLUI) and the “Environmental
Justice Through NEPA” Conference held in Denver, Colorado, for
indigenous resource managers working with the environmental impact
statement process. Honu Travel Grants are also
awarded by the ELP faculty to students on as-needed basis for
conference travel, please see the Director of ELP for more information.
Past recipients of other ELP travel grants and conferences attended
include:
2008:
