Where It All Began: The Class That Built Hawaiʻi’s Law School

Before there were traditions or generations of alumni, there was a group of students who chose to believe in something new. In the early 70s, the inaugural class of the then University of Hawai‘i Law School walked into classrooms without precedent, without a roadmap, and without the certainty of what this new law school would become. What they did have was a shared belief in its purpose, and in time, they would help shape not only the school itself but also the future of law and leadership across Hawaiʻi. 

Founded in 1973, the law school welcomed its first class of 53 students to the old wooden buildings in the Quarry at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Prior to the school’s founding, Hawai‘i did not have a law school, and residents who aspired to become attorneys or wished to enhance their career prospects through legal training had to receive their legal education on the continent. In a speech given on September 4, 1973, Chief Justice William S. Richardson reminded the inaugural class that to him, and to the people of Hawai’i, “you represent no less than the realization of a dream.” That dream was rooted not only in access, but in a broader vision for what legal education could mean for Hawai‘i.

The absence of a law school in Hawai‘i created an especially acute need. For many, the cost of mainland education placed legal training out of reach, while local communities and public institutions lacked attorneys grounded in the islands’ history, unique character, and evolving needs. Chief Justice Richardson was among the leading advocates spearheading the establishment of the first and only law school in Hawai‘i, believing it was essential not only to expand opportunity but also to prepare lawyers equipped to address the complex legal issues unique to the state.

At its core, the law school was envisioned as more than an academic institution. It was a response to a growing need for legal services across Hawai‘i, particularly for underserved communities, and a source of independent thought and leadership within government and the legal profession. In building the law school, Chief Justice Richardson and early supporters imagined a place that would not only educate lawyers, but also strengthen the systems and communities they would go on to serve.

That vision was not abstract. It was carried forward by the students themselves, shaping how they learned, collaborated, and understood their role in Hawai‘i’s future. Former governor of Hawai‘i John D. Waihe‘e was among the first students at the law school, and he remembered being struck by Richardson’s approach. “He was the symbol of the law school. And for a lot of us, coming from a non-legal background but who wanted to be lawyers, the idea of a chief justice who was accessible was exciting, and it was justified.” That sense of purpose followed the students into the classroom, inspiring a culture of collaboration that helped them navigate the vast uncertainty of a new law school still finding its footing.

“Our class learned from photocopied tomes, returned daily to classroom desks covered with wind-blown dust, and crossed the road for the ‘ladies facilities’ at the dance studio, as we were without one,” says Catherine O.Y. Chang, one of Richardson’s first students. Another alum, Terry Nui Yoshinaga, remembers using card catalogues and legal books to do legal research. “No computers back then. I was envious of another student’s IBM Selectric typewriter, which had a correction key that you would backspace, re-type the mistake to white it out, and then type the right letter over the clean spot,” she says.

This analog learning defined the first class’s experience, requiring a certain level of resourcefulness in both the work and the academic culture. Allen Hoe remembers how they learned with such limitations. “[…] When we started, we started with nothing. […] We had no textbooks and everything we did or had was provided via Xerox,” he says. 

These limits also strengthened the bond between the class. Randy Vitousek remembers how close his class grew, with their success rooted in cooperation rather than competition. “We don’t have to fight tooth and nail with each other in order to perform or excel or make our way forward. We really decided that we could move forward by cooperating with each other, by helping each other, by supporting each other, by working together,” he says. 

Life after law school quickly opened many opportunities for the Class of 1976, many of whom went to work in both private practice and public service. Mr. Hoe remembers that within a year or a year and a half after graduation, “pretty much everyone was employed,” with the downtown bar association opening its arms to the graduates. For Mary Chapman Hudson, her law school education took her to environmental law, where she used her legal education “to become an effective advocate for the protection of the environment,” helping to preserve wildlife habitat, advise on a marine science campus, and work on global warming research.

The inaugural class also spearheaded many firsts. The law school had an unprecedented ratio of female to male students at that time, which challenged the typical gender norms across other law schools in the United States. That legacy of trailblazing would continue in the law school’s later programs. Starting as a transfer student from Washington, D.C., Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie joined the first class in their final year and found herself warmly welcomed into the already close-knit class. As a dedicated advocate for Native Hawaiians and other Indigenous communities, Professor MacKenzie helped launch the Native Hawaiian Law Program with then-Dean Avi Soifer, who together submitted a grant under the Native Hawaiian Education Act. “We got [the grant], and then we started the Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law […]. That was in 2005,” she says.

On May 17, 2026, the William S. Richardson School of Law will celebrate its 50th graduating class. Behind every milestone celebrated today, the story of the first class of Hawai’i’s Law School is what made those beginnings possible. From the old Quarry to careers in law that reshaped Hawai‘i’s legal landscape, the class helped define a school where legal education was never separated from its responsibility to the community. Fifty years later, their legacy endures as the law school continues to thrive as a collaborative, close-knit community, producing lawyers and leaders who contribute to Hawaiʻi and beyond. 

To support the next 50 years of legal education, click here. Your generosity supports the next generation of law students at the William S. Richardson School of Law to lead and serve our communities.

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About William S. Richardson School of Law

The William S. Richardson School of Law is a collaborative, multicultural community preparing students for excellence in the practice of law and related careers that advance justice and the rule of law. We develop highly qualified, ethical professionals through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and public service. We embrace Hawai‘i’s diversity and values and recognize a special responsibility to our state and the Pacific region.

MEDIA CONTACT

Collin Cedotal, Public Information Specialist
(808) 956-9391 | ccedotal@hawaii.edu