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Island Leadership Lab Seminar (LAW 520Q)
Inaugurated in 2021, the Island Leadership Lab Seminar is an immersive leadership experience grounded in a curriculum specifically designed to prepare the next generation of leaders for success. Increasingly law school graduates find themselves exercising leadership outside law firms and the courtroom. Richardson Law has several generations of graduates who have founded businesses, become non-profit executives, been elected to political office, and exercise leadership in multiple roles across society. Knowing how to lead is a different skill than knowing the black letter law.
In this unique seminar, co-instructors Dean Camille Nelson and Noelani Kalipi, Esq., will be joined by several Leaders in Residence for an immersive leadership experience grounded in a curriculum specifically developed to prepare next-generation leaders for success. The Island Leadership Lab Seminar will feature small group interactions that build leadership skills and share tools that will be used by students during their law school studies, upon graduation, and across entire careers.
INSTRUCTORS
2024 LEADERS IN RESIDENCE
Sunshine Walker (October 12, 2024)
Sunshine is responsible for stewarding the Omidyar family’s philanthropic interests in Hawai‘i and helping evolve The Omidyar Group’s work and approach statewide. She brings more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience working for some of Hawai‘i’s largest companies, guiding them through periods of significant change and encouraging more outreach to the Native Hawaiian community. Most recently, Sunshine served for four years as the Senior VP of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness at Hawai‘i Pacific Health. She helped lead the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, a nursing strike, and other challenges there. With vast experience navigating highly sensitive, technical, and controversial issues, Sunshine leads with integrity and is known for standing by her guiding principles. She also brings a passion for community service and philanthropy supporting the Native Hawaiian community, rooted in her experience growing up on Hawaiian homestead lands in Keaukaha on Hawai‘i Island. Sunshine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a master’s degree in public health. She is a Trustee for the King Lunalilo Trust. When she’s not working in the office or in the community, Sunshine is either surfing or spending time with her family, including her husband, three kids, and two dogs.
Julian Aguon (October 19, 2024)
Julian Aguon is an Indigenous human rights lawyer and writer from Guam. He is the author of No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies (2022) and earned Pulitzer Prize recognition for his 2021 essay featured in The Atlantic, “To Hell with Drowning.” Aguon is the founder of Blue Ocean Law, a progressive firm that works at the intersection of Indigenous rights and environmental justice, and he serves on the Global Advisory Council of Progressive International. Julian Aguon is the fall 2024 Dan and Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair in Democratic Ideals. Aguon will be in residency at UH Mānoa for the entire fall semester. During that time, he will co-teach (with Professor Susan Serrano) Pacific Island Legal Systems at the law school, while participating in class visits and community forums.
Kūʻikeokalani “Kū’ike” Kamakea-ʻŌhelo (October 26, 2024)
Kūʻikeokalani “Kū’ike” Kamakea-ʻŌhelo began his role as OHA’s Director of ʻŌiwi Wellbeing and ʻĀina in March of 2024. Kamakea-ʻŌhelo is responsible for supporting the planning and execution of OHA’s wellbeing efforts. He will advance policies, programs and practices that reinforce Hawaiian wellbeing by strengthening ʻŌiwi (cultural Identity), Ea (self-governance), ʻĀina Momona (healthy lands and people), Pilina (relationships), Waiwai (shared wealth), and Ke Akua Mana (spirituality). Kamakea-ʻŌhelo most recently served as a research specialist for the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University. His work focused on Indigenous food systems, traditional knowledge and sustainable agricultural practices. He is a former project manager for Partners in Development, a current member of the State of Hawaiʻi Land Use Commission and president of the Board of Directors for Cho Global Natural Farming Hawaiʻi.
Jeff Mikulina (October 26, 2024)
Jeff Mikulina is a climate and social impact strategist who has led sustainability organizations for over 25 years in Hawai‘i. He currently serves as the executive director of Climate Hawai‘i, an initiative of the Hawai‘i Executive Collaboration. Jeff also hosts “Empowered Hawai‘i,” a monthly KHON2 show on Hawaii’s sustainability journey, and works with the Blue Planet Alliance on their 100% Renewable Islands Fellowship program, and writes on climate issues for a variety of outlets, including Esquire magazine. He previously served as the executive director of the Blue Planet Foundation for 13 years. In that role he led the effort to establish Hawai‘i’s 100% renewable energy mandate—the first such law in the nation. Jeff received a Master’s of Science degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a focus on sustainable product design and decision theory.
Catherine Awakuni Colón (October 26, 2024)
Catherine Awakuni Colón is the President and CEO of the Oʻahu Economic Development Board (OEDB), a nonprofit fostering a thriving economy focused on the well-being and prosperity of everyone who calls Hawaiʻi home, now and into the future. Before joining OEDB, Catherine provided twenty years of public service to the State of Hawaiʻi in various roles, including the Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (two terms – appointed by Governor David Ige), the Cable Administrator, the Consumer Advocate for public utilities, and the Chief Legal Counsel for the Public Utilities Commission. Catherine holds a B.B.A. (Accounting) from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a J.D. from the University of Hawaii’s William S. Richardson School of Law.
Donalyn Dela Cruz (October 26, 2024)
Donalyn Dela Cruz is a communications strategist with a background in media, public relations, crisis comms, public affairs, and community engagement. She is the owner of DDC Consulting and services a range of clients across Hawaii and beyond. An active community volunteer, Donalyn sits on a number of nonprofit boards, including the University of Hawaii Alumni Association. She is a subject matter expert for the Center for Homeland Defense and Security and facilitates leadership sessions for the Pacific Executive Leadership Program. Donalyn has a MA in security studies, Naval Postgraduate School; BA in journalism, UH Mānoa. She has been featured in PBN’s 2009, 40 Under 40; is an alum of the American Council of Young Political Leaders; and an inaugural member of Omidyar Fellows.
Kuhao Zane (November 2, 2024)
Kuhao Zane, Creative Director of Sig Zane Designs and SZKaiao comes from a generational Hula family practice that grounds and informs his day to day career. Zane, has worked with his father, company founder Sig Zane for the past 21 years, from sweeping sidewalks to opening two Oahu locations, Sig On Smith and Kaiao_Space. With his design studio SZKaiao, Kuhao employs their unique approach that blends cultural values with design. Their work with both local and international clients range from branding, art installations, airplane liveries and architectural way-finding. Currently, Kuhao also serves as the president of Edith Kanakaole Foundation, a non-profit that employs his families generational cultural insight through curriculum development, site restoration, consulting and publishing. Kuhao weaves this range of sectors and interests together as a platform to serve his community.
Shae Kamakaala (November 2, 2024)
Shae was born and raised in Punaluu and Kahana, Koʻolauloa, Hawaiʻi where she was raised by a community of fishers and lifeways of subsistence living and communal sharing. Always hearing about the stolen lands, waters and illegal overthrow of our government, she went on to receive her law degree with certificates in Native Hawaiian Rights and Environmental Law from the William S. Richardson School of Law in 2014. With cultural practitioners–rightholders–always serving as her clients regardless of the organization or institution she worked for, she helped communities statewide find pockets of sovereignty within nearshore fisheries work. Since joining Hawaiʻi Land Trust (HILT) in 2020, being lead by generational Kohala families, Shae worked towards the successful completion of HILT’s largest fee acquisition, forever protecting 642 acres of coastal lands with over hundreds of cultural sites.
Beth Whitehead (November 9, 2024)
As Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of American Savings Bank (ASB), Beth Whitehead champions ASB’s award-winning teammate experience and workplace culture. In her role, Beth leads ASB’s Human Resources, Learning and Development, Communications, Community Advancement, Corporate Real Estate, Corporate Security, Facilities Management, Bank Secrecy Act, Internal Audit, and Legal teams. She also oversees ASB’s Operations team, which is responsible for delivering integrated operations solutions and improving operational efficiency. Her teams develop benefits, programs and opportunities that attract, develop and retain top talent, while helping to protect and promote ASB’s unique brand in the community. Beth graduated with honors from both the University of Mississippi, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and from the University of Arkansas School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctorate.
Maxine Burkett (November 16, 2024)
Maxine Burkett is the Assistant Director for Climate, Ocean, and Equity at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Most recently, she was a Visiting Professor at Harvard Medical School’s Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, where she advanced research on climate justice and public health, and is a Professor of Law (on loan) at the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawai‘i. From January 2022 through July 2023, Burkett served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Fisheries, and Polar Affairs in the Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES). At OES, Burkett oversaw the formulation and implementation of U.S. policy on a broad range of international issues concerning the oceans, the Arctic, the Antarctic, and marine conservation. Prior to that appointment, Burkett served as an Expert Senior Advisor to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry where her portfolio included climate-related migration, climate security, bilateral relationships with island nations, and Indigenous Peoples’ engagement. Before joining the Biden Administration, Maxine served on numerous commissions, state and federal committees, and the boards of several organizations dedicated to climate mitigation and adaptation, environmental and climate justice, and just transitions. Among other affiliations, Maxine is a member scholar of the International Law Association’s Committee on International Law and Sea Level Rise, for which she served as a Co-Rapporteur from 2019 to 2021, and the American Law Institute. Prof. Burkett received her B.A. from Williams College, which awarded her the Bicentennial Medal for Distinguished Achievement in 2016, and Exeter College, Oxford University. She received her J.D. from Berkeley Law, University of California, and served as a law clerk for The Honorable Susan Illston of the United States District Court, Northern District of California.