Category: News

Earl Chapman was a long-time mediator, supporter and benefactor of the Mediation Center of the Pacific. An insightful businessman, Earl recognized the value of mediation, incorporating it into his professional and personal life, from his first introduction to the Mediation Center in 1988. Over the years Earl donated countless hours and financial support to help the Mediation Center grow. A past President, mediator and volunteer trainer, Earl mediated hundreds of cases to successful resolution, mentored countless new mediators and established a Building Fund to help the Mediation Center eventually reside in a permanent home. Thanks to Earl’s input, support and vision, the Mediation Center has grown and flourished. Earl was truly a peacemaker. While he will be greatly missed, his legacy and good work will live on.

2013 was certainly a good year to cement relations between the Mediation Center of the Pacific and ACR Hawaii. Three ACR Hawaii board members received MCP Awards. Karen Cross on May 4, 2013 Lou Chang and Giuseppe Leone on December 11, 2013

On December 4, 2013 Midweek published an article titled Pledge to Try Mediation First to Solve Conflicts written by Jerry Clay, President of the board, Mediation Center of the Pacific. In that article, Clay explains why the Center is engaged in an effort to get more organizations in Hawaii to take a pledge to try mediation first to resolve disputes, rather than become adversaries in the judicial system. To view and download the MCP mediation pledge click here

Hawaii Board member and Past President, Karen Cross was honored and recognized on Saturday, May 4, 2013 as one of three pioneers of mediation in Hawaii, at Under a Mediation Moon, a benefit to support the work of The Mediation Center of the Pacific. Chief Justice Ronald Moon (Ret.) and Keith Hunter shared the spotlight with Karen on this festive evening filled with wine, good food and song. Singing to the tune of All My Loving, the crowd lovingly sang her praises in a song that details her life and many accomplishments. Congratulations, Karen!

On May 1, 2013, Board member Giuseppe Leone interviewed Julie Mitchell, Executive Director of the Ku’ikahi Mediation Center in Hilo, Hawaii about the programs at her center. Started as a program of the YMCA on Hawai’i Island, the KMC became an independent non-profit organization. They provide affordable mediation services with professionally trained mediators, facilitation services for a variety of groups, as well as trainings and workshops to the communities of East Hawai’i. Watch the 13-minute interview below.

Nick was a friend of ACR-Hawaii and a valued member of our Board since 2008, having served as treasurer in 2009 and 2010. Chuck Hurd, friend and fellow board member recalls meeting Nick at a social event a few years ago and “immediately recognized him as a kindred soul, a brother lawyer, who had wanted to grow beyond the boundaries of the profession and who sought to keep growing and evolving into a better human being. He worked as an arbitrator, expert witness and mediator to try and bring a fair and just result to one case at a time. Nick’s legacy is that he left an imprint on many people to believe that it is possible and even a personal calling to do the fair and just thing in this world.” Nick was a fine man and human being who touched the lives of everyone he met and he will be greatly missed.