Legal Advice & Assistance

Helping the people of Hawaiʻi with disaster legal aid issues

How we can help you

PONO Legal staff and volunteers work with individuals and families impacted by natural disasters and public emergencies to provide free legal advice, information, and practical support for disaster recovery.

We help you understand your rights, explore your options, and take the next steps to resolve your legal problem. Through collaborating with our Hawaiʻi-based partners, including Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, Legal Aid Society of Maui, Maui County Bar Association, and Hawaii State Bar Association, we strive to help as many impacted individuals as possible, while at the same time reducing duplication of legal assistance efforts and waste of resources.

    • Document replacement

    • Small claims

    • Discrimination

    • FEMA applications & appeals

    • SBA Disaster Loan applications

    • Public benefit applications & appeals

    • Disaster tax relief

    • Financial planning, counseling, and debt-management

    • Hotel and temporary housing rights

    • FEMA Direct Lease issues

    • Lease terminations & evictions

    • Security deposit disputes

    • Rent increases

    • Habitability concerns

    • Mortgage forbearance

    • Foreclosure prevention

    • Contractor licensing violations

    • Contractor delays, defects, abandonment, disputes

    • Missing property deeds

    • Family land ownership / fractional ownership conflicts

    • Quiet title actions

    • Disaster Unemployment Assistance

    • Worker’s compensation

    • Discrimination

    • Wage claims

    • Employment termination issues

    • Leave rights

    • Understanding your policy

    • Filing a claim

    • Claim disputes: underpayment, coverage denials, valuation, delays

    • Underinsurance issues

    • Power of Attorney

    • Advance Health Care Directive

    • Transfer on Death Deed

    • Simple will

    • Probate

    • Trust administration and decision-making authority

Request Help

Learn more about how PONO Legal is committed to assisting the people of Maui with disaster legal aid issues in this Hawaiʻi News Now interview with Staff Attorney, Hiʻilei Casco, and Executive Director, Heidi Ho.