Professor Williamson “Bill” Chang Announces Retirement After Five Decades at Richardson Law

HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi (July 28, 2026) — The William S. Richardson School of Law community celebrates the retirement of Professor Williamson “Bill” Chang, whose extraordinary career has shaped generations of lawyers, scholars, and community leaders across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.

Professor Chang joined the law school faculty in 1976 and quickly became known for his dynamic classroom teaching and unwavering commitment to students. For five decades, he has been one of the most influential voices in Hawaiʻi legal education, dedicating his career to advancing justice, Indigenous rights, constitutional law, and the unique legal and political history of Hawaiʻi. His scholarship and public engagement helped define the law school’s intellectual identity and strengthened its mission to serve Hawaiʻi’s communities with integrity and purpose.

Generations of alumni recall his ability to challenge assumptions, inspire critical thinking, and connect legal doctrine to the lived realities of the people of Hawaiʻi. His courses on legal ethics, water law, Native Hawaiian rights, and international law became foundational experiences for countless students pursuing careers in public service, advocacy, government, and academia.

Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Chang has been particularly recognized for his pioneering work on Native Hawaiian legal issues, exploring questions of sovereignty, self-determination, land, and historical justice with intellectual rigor and moral clarity. Beyond the classroom, he played an important role in public discourse throughout Hawaiʻi, helping communities and policymakers engage thoughtfully with some of the state’s most significant legal and historical questions.

Upon his retirement, Professor Chang shared a note of gratitude with the Richardson community, reflecting on his fifty years at the law school:

“When I started teaching in 1976, the year the first class graduated, the school was without facilities or funding. Classes were taught in a single wooden structure along the freeway… On reflection these obstacles were necessary to move from the Hawaiʻi of the past to the present… Ultimately, during my fifty years more than 4,000 students have passed through the law school. They have succeeded in all areas, from private practice to government and legal education… As I look back the purpose and ikigai of the law school is firmly in place, as is my own. I cannot imagine a life better spent.”

The William S. Richardson School of Law ʻohana extends its heartfelt appreciation to Professor Williamson Chang for his fifty years of dedication and leadership and wishes him continued fulfillment in the years ahead.

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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