When Duane Shimogawa wrote on Jun 21, 2010 about Chief Justice Richarson, I was at a lost with 'now what' a bit selfish in the moment for all I could think of was his 'Natural Court' and how much of it was going to be preserved to balance the have's and have not's in the Hawaiian Culture.
Author Shimogawa wrote, "[I]in his 16 years leading the State Supreme Court, he made landmark rulings assuring public beach access and affirming public ownership of water and other natural resources, always sensitive to Hawaii's unique way of life.. ."
In the same light, I was surprised to read Avi Soifer dean of William S. Richardson of Law say, "Why should we follow Anglo American common law, when we have our own traditions here and he used those traditions for the sake of justice and he did that for all the people, he loved Hawaiians, he also loved Hawaii," Soifer said., wrote Shimogawa as quoted.
Having been one of those students (not law student), seeking a 'talk' with Judge Richardson...he once pointed to Bill Richardson and said that his son was going to carry out the 'Natural Court' of justice.
When I'm in the fields engaging with people in need, I often think about these moments...accessing, water rights and our natural resources as he said and believed in and carried out in court was more than sensetivity...it's our staff of life!
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