PONO Legal serves Hawaiʻi communities who have been impacted by a natural disaster or public emergency. We welcome individuals, families, and community members seeking information, resources, legal assistance, or referrals related to disaster recovery.

Services are available regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, veteran status, sexual orientation or status as a person with disabilities.

Please note: Eligibility for certain legal services may depend on the type of legal issue, program requirements, funding restrictions, or available capacity. If we are unable to assist directly, we will do our best to connect you with other trusted resources and service providers.

What to Expect

Most people work with us at least three times during their legal issue.

1. Submit an Intake Form
To first contact us, please fill out our intake form: https://www.ponolegal.org/request-help. If it’s easier for you, you can also contact our office directly via phone at (808) 244-1580 or email at info@ponolegal.org and we can fill out an intake form for you with your information.

2. Case Assessment

Once we receive your form, someone from our team will follow up with you. This is usually by phone, but may be via text, email, or in person based on your contact preferences. We'll ask a few questions to check your eligibility for our services and learn more about your issues and needs. If appropriate, we’ll also arrange an appointment with one of our lawyers.

3. Legal Advice or Services
During a meeting with one of our lawyers, you'll receive legal advice, services, next steps, or a referral if appropriate. This is usually provided in person through an appointment, by email, or during a follow-up phone call.

What we can help with

PONO Legal provides assistance with legal issues related to disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience.

While many services are provided in-house (by PONO Legal staff), we also collaborate with our Hawaiʻi-based partners including Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, Legal Aid Society of Maui, Maui County Bar Association, and Hawaii State Bar Association to help as many impacted individuals as possible, while at the same time reducing duplication of legal assistance efforts and waste of resources.

What we can’t help with

PONO Legal is unable to provide assistance with matters that are not related to a disaster, including:

• Family law matters (such as divorce, child custody, child support, or adoption)

• Criminal law matters

• Business or commercial legal matters

• Buying or selling real estate or homes

• Personal injury cases

• Employment law matters unrelated to a disaster

Our organization also does not provide litigation services and does not represent clients in court proceedings. If your issue requires filing a lawsuit, defending a lawsuit, or representation in court, we may be able to provide referrals to other legal resources, but we cannot serve as your litigation attorney.

Need help determining whether we can assist?

Contact us and briefly describe your situation. We can help determine whether your legal issue is disaster-related and provide referrals when available.

Our services are designed to help people understand and address their own disaster-related legal issues. We can help you understand your rights, explore your options, and identify next steps. You remain responsible for making decisions and taking action on your legal matter.

Depending on your situation, we may be able to:

• Explain your legal rights and responsibilities

• Provide advice about your legal options

• Discuss the strengths and challenges of your case

• Review documents or correspondence you plan to send

• Help you prepare for meetings, hearings, or appeals

• Assist with urgent disaster-related legal issues when immediate action is needed

• Connect you with additional resources or service providers