Kapiʻolani Community College is marking a major milestone: 50 years of providing paralegal education as the state’s only American Bar Association (ABA) approved program. Since its founding in 1975, the program has established a profound legacy of service, access and leadership, producing generations of legal professionals who are deeply embedded in the state’s justice system.
Paralegal program graduates serve in law firms, state agencies and nonprofit organizations, making an impact across Hawaiʻi communities. They are essential to organizations such as the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, Hawaiʻi Innocence Project, the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Attorney General.
“For 50 years, our paralegal graduates have been working in the places where the community needs them the most,” said Kimberly Koide Iwao, program chair. “Under the supervision of licensed attorneys, our students have helped clients navigate legal challenges ranging from housing disputes, to family matters, to wrongful conviction reviews.”
Community service roots
The program’s roots are firmly planted in community service, tracing its origins to Robert J. “Bob” LeClair, a Legal Aid Society attorney. LeClair secured leadership funding to establish Hawaiʻi’s first Legal Assistant Program at Kapiʻolani CC, quickly becoming recognized as a national model for paralegal education defined by academic rigor and community service. Professor Susan Jaworowski (who is retired today), modernized the curriculum by incorporating online and hybrid instruction to keep students at the forefront of a changing legal landscape.
Under Iwao’s leadership, the program continues to evolve. In 2024, it became one of the first in the nation to launch an artificial intelligence certification for paralegal students. Internships and community engagement remain central, giving students vital real-world training while providing critical staffing support to Hawaiʻi’s legal services. Students regularly engage in pro bono work, and a developing partnership with the Hawaiʻi Judiciary will expand opportunities for placements within the courts.
“Kapiʻolani CC’s paralegal program has strengthened Hawaiʻi’s legal community and expanded pathways for students to make meaningful contributions to justice and society,” said Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi. “Hawaiʻi’s legal system relies on skilled legal support professionals, and our graduates are prepared to serve with integrity and commitment.”
