Historic gift creates first endowed chair in labor law at Hawaii law school

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A gift from the Leonard Hoshijo Memorial Foundation will create the first endowed chair in labor law at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law. The contribution is the largest donation ever received by the law school and stands as the most significant gift for an endowed chair in UH history. The donor has requested that the amount not be disclosed.

The Leonard Hoshijo Endowed Chair in Labor Law honors Hoshijo, a passionate advocate for workers, who died in 2021 at age 69.

The Leonard Hoshijo Endowed Chair in Labor Law will allow the law school to hire a labor law scholar dedicated to teaching, writing, and researching the laws that affect employees and those represented by a union.

Additionally, it will support students interested in facilitating fair and safe labor practices through paid graduate assistantships and opportunities for mentorship and research.

The gift also provides support for a Leonard Hoshijo Visiting Fellow, a visiting scholar or advocate who will support experiential learning opportunities in labor law for students who will gain direct experience in the service of local community members.

"As the only law school in the state, UH Mānoa's William S. Richardson School of Law has an obligation to train students in all areas of the law, including the complicated areas of labor and employment law," said UH Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno. "As technology changes the modes of work, it's essential education keeps pace with modern practices."

"We are grateful for this incredible gift from the Leonard Hoshijo Memorial Foundation," said Dean Camille Nelson of UH Mānoa's William S. Richardson School of Law. "This vision and commitment recognizes a crucial area for our students and curriculum and provides an educational opportunity that will benefit the larger community in myriad ways."

"This historic gift honoring Leonard Hoshijo reflects his commitment to improving the lives of workers in Hawaiʻi through his tireless efforts," said Tim Dolan, UH vice president of advancement and CEO of UH Foundation. "We're grateful for the foresight of the Leonard Hoshijo Memorial Foundation's gift, which will ensure our law school is a leader in labor law education in the 21^st century."

"Leonard was an exceedingly smart and progressive visionary," said LHMF board member, Joanne Kealoha, who worked alongside Leonard at the ILWU for many years. "He devoted his entire adult life to organizing workers, advancing labor unions, and advocating justice for working people.

"We hope this new position at the law school will inspire law students to choose labor law to represent Hawaiʻi's working men and women," she said. "Workers not only need union representation but legal representation as well."

Leonard Paul Hoshijo served as both deputy director and director of the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations under Gov. David Ige after a long career with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Hawai'i Regional Council of Carpenters.

Hoshijo graduated from Kalani High School and went on to graduate from Antioch College before completing a post-graduate degree in education from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, where he was also involved in the struggle to establish the Ethnic Studies Program.

Hoshijo also served in volunteer leadership and other roles for groups including the Hawai'i Council for Housing Action, national board of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Center Bureau, 90th Anniversary of Okinawan Immigration Committee, Hawaiian Electric Company Integrated Resource Advisory Group, the Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR) at the University of Hawai'i, State Judicial Selection Committee, Blood Bank of Hawaii and the Hawai'i Labor Heritage Council.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law was founded in 1974 and has trained generations of Hawaiʻi's leaders with a first-class law curriculum that embodies Hawaiʻi's unique culture, values, and laws. As a Hawaiian place of learning, our students are nourished with both the depth of knowledge and experience, to enable them to become the leading nurturers and protectors of their communities in Hawai'i and across the globe.

FOR UH • FOR HAWAIʻI, The Campaign for the University of Hawaiʻi, is focused on raising $1 billion to support UH priorities on all 10 campuses across the state, including student success; research that matters; kuleana to Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi; sustainability, resilience and conservation; innovation and entrepreneurship; building Hawaiʻi's workforce; and engaging our community. Learn more at uhfoundation.org/4UH4HI