School and Group Tours

As part of our effort to promote civics and law-related education, the Center offers thought-provoking tours for students of all ages. Our tours are designed to be age appropriate and particularly helpful in meeting Hawaiʻi State benchmark standards for students in grades K-12. The tours cover such topics as the Kapu System, Foundations of Democracy, Land and Power in Hawaiʻi, the Overthrow of the Kingdom, and Martial Law, just to name a few. Most of our tours allow for student participation in mock trials.

Programs

The Judiciary History Center offers schools, colleges, and the general public a number of law-related educational activities and resources. Law-Related Education (LRE) has evolved from the assumption that individuals who understand the reasons for laws and the institutions that support them are more likely to act responsibly in society. Students exposed to LRE are better able to predict consequences of breaking the law. They may also be more capable of resolving disputes independent of the court system. The Center is one of the few providers of LRE programs in the state.

Professional Development for Teachers

The Judiciary History Center provides teachers with several opportunities per year to engage in professional development:

School Violence Prevention Demonstration Program

This curriculum, training, and research program is funded through a grant form the Center for Civic Education. Designed to improve students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes, SVPDP provides training opportunities for teacher participants, from both public and private schools, that emphasize civic education, constitutional doctrine, and public policy theory. It also provides research and evaluation of changes in students' civic knowledge and attitude toward authority.

Teachers who participate receive free sets of curriculum and attend multiple two-day workshops with instruction on concepts including authority, justice, privacy, and responsibility.

We the People:  The Citizen and the Constitution

This progam, also funded by the Center for Civic Education, is designed to help teachers enhance their students understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy and at the same time discover the contemporary relevance of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Teaching American History

The Center has been selected by the Department of Education to partner in several Teaching American History Grants. In its role as partner, the Center conducts teacher workshops on the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, focusing on such topics as the conflict between the right to privacy and national security, and the separation of church and state.

The Speakers Bureau

The Hawai'i State Judiciary created a Speakers Bureau to educate the community about judicial system. The bureau will find a speaker to present thought-provoking and important information appropriate to your audience. 

The Speakers Bureau can assist most civic groups, social organizations, professional associations, schools, law enforcement agencies and more. Keep in mind that judicial ethics prevent judges from addressing special interest groups or speaking about pending cases. Also keep in mind that out speakers accept requests as their other commitments allow.

If you would like to request a judge to speak to your organization or class, please click here.

Research and Publications

Legal Research

The role of the courts in Hawaiian society during the Monarchy period culminated in an analysis of over 20,000 cases preserved in the State Archives. As an outgrowth of this research, a database of 19th century judges and lawyers has been produced. New information is incorporated as it becomes uncovered.

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