PONO Legal provides free legal services to Hawaiʻi community members impacted by natural disasters and public emergencies.

We are your local disaster legal aid organization dedicated to expanding access to justice for Hawaiʻi’s disaster relief, recovery, and resilience efforts.

Heartbroken by the August 2023 Maui wildfires, we felt called to help. So much loss in our community . . . the lives, the missing, the homes, the businesses, as well as our historic Hawaiian Kingdom landmarks.

We knew there would be a need for legal services and we wanted people to be able to receive them for free. We started our non-profit legal organization and named her PONO, which stands for Pro bono Organization for Native ʻOhana.

Welina Mai

How We Can Help

Guided by Pono

Pono in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi means “righteousness” or “to do what is right.” Similarly, it means to achieve excellence, prosperity, and a state of equity - living in balance with ourselves, those around us, and the world that sustains us.

Our mission is to provide free legal services, information, and support forHawai’i residents impacted by natural disasters and other public emergencies — by listening, connecting individuals and families with supportive resources, and advocating for those in need of legal assistance.

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