Support the University of Hawaii National Mock Trial Team

We are excited to announce that the William S. Richardson School of Law National Trial Competition Team from Hawaii has been invited to compete at the prestigious National Trial Competition in Arizona, taking place February 7-9, 2025. This is an incredible opportunity for our team, comprised of talented and dedicated 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year law students, to showcase their advocacy skills on a national stage. Most of our team members come from diverse, underrepresented, and minority backgrounds, making this accomplishment even more meaningful as we work to elevate voices that are often marginalized in the legal profession.

National mock trial competitions are invaluable experiences for law students, providing a unique opportunity to develop critical courtroom skills, including legal analysis, public speaking, and trial advocacy. These competitions simulate real-world legal proceedings, where students act as attorneys and witnesses, presenting arguments, examining witnesses, and advocating for their positions in front of professional judges and attorneys. The experience not only sharpens their legal acumen but also prepares them to become the next generation of skilled and compassionate lawyers in Hawaii.

However, participating in this competition comes with significant costs. Travel expenses, lodging, registration fees, and materials quickly add up, and as students, we rely on the generosity of our community to make this dream a reality. That’s where you come in!

Your support will directly help cover:

Travel and lodging costs for our team to get to Arizona and stay during the competition.

Competition registration fees to secure our place in this prestigious event.

Practice materials and preparation costs, such as printing case packets and securing additional resources to ensure our team is fully prepared to compete at the highest level.

This competition is not just about winning. It’s about representation, opportunity, and growth. By supporting our team, you are helping to empower future lawyers who will go on to serve their communities and advocate for justice. You are also helping to diversify the legal profession by investing in students whose voices and perspectives are essential to creating a more equitable and inclusive legal system.

The student advocates this year are Carolina Frances, Tammy Kim, Tamarin McCartin, Justin Kenoi, Bronson Gonzales, and Nisa Gapet.

The student witnesses this year are Miah Bonilla, Ashley Murphy, Trevor Tamashiro, and Phuong Dinh. The student coaches are Brandon Ajari & Ikaika Agard.

We are incredibly grateful for any contribution, big or small, to help us achieve our goal. Every dollar brings us closer to Arizona and closer to realizing our potential on a national stage. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing our GoFundMe page with your network to help us spread the word.

Thank you for believing in us and for supporting the William S. Richardson School of Law National Trial Competition Team from Hawaii. Together, we can make this opportunity possible and show the world what our Hawaii team is capable of!

Let’s make this dream a reality—donate today!