Interview of Hsba President Levi K. Hookano

• Citation: Vol. 25 No. 01
• Publication year: 2021
• Year: 2021

Interview of HSBA President Levi K. Hookano

by Ed Kemper

Please give us your background and your educational history.

I was born and raised in Pauoa Valley, on the island of Oahu. I would not be where I am today if not for the love and support of my family. My mom supported every endeavor that I wanted to undertake, whether it was band, riflery, or deciding to go to college on the mainland. She never told me I could not do something (well. within reason). My dad made sure I knew what it meant to work hard and to help others when they needed it, then go a little bit further for them. My siblings taught me humility, as siblings tend to do. And my grandparents taught me just about everything about "real life." They are from the greatest generation and experienced some tragic events, with my grandfathers both fighting in World War II, one in the Pacific Theater and the other with the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Europe. I learned compassion from my grandmothers and the importance of honor from my grandfathers. I feel blessed to have such a supportive family and extended family.

Growing up I attended both public and private schools, where I met lifelong friends and learned life lessons. Looking back, home economics, typing, and JROTC were all such important classes to instill life, professional, and leadership skills; I highly recommend today's youth take those classes, as well as any class that develops critical thinking. I was fortunate to be accepted to, and graduate from Kamehameha Schools in Kalihi. I am forever indebted to Princess Pauahi for her vision to educate so many Hawaiian children.

After high school, I decided to venture to the mainland for college, but not too far. I attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles where I majored in psychology. I made some great friends there, and we formed a kanikapila group, Kulana Kai. We played at the annual luau and even had an opportunity to open for the Makaha Sons (with Sistah Robi, Darlene Ahuna, and Sean Naauao) in Re-dondo Beach. I also learned how to play taiko with the group Kanarazu Daiko and how to play craps and blackjack during a monthly drive from L.A. to Las Vegas.

[Page 4]

After graduating from college, I returned home to Honolulu and attended the University of Hawaii to earn a Master's of Public Administration. There was a part of the program focused on the law. Until that moment, I never really gave law school much thought. After speaking with my financial aid counselor, she recommended I take the LSAT and apply to law school. The rest is history.

I took the plunge and applied to only one law school. .. the William S. Richardson School of Law. It was either there, or nowhere. Amazingly, they accepted my application and I entered in 2003, the first year that Avi Soifer served as Dean. This was truly one of the best decisions I have made. In 2006,1 received my law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law and passed the bar.

Please describe your legal career for our readers and, if you have a specific area of practice.

My legal career is a series of fortuitous opportunities that arose at the right times. I believe it is mostly being able to build relationships with people, since I was not an academically exceptional standout student. For our younger members, I always advise it is extremely important to build relationships, especially in such a small legal community where everyone talks to everyone, and the coconut wireless is faster than 5G speeds.

I began my legal career by serving as the legal specialist for the Office of the County Clerk on the Big Island. The Clerk at the time, CaseyJarman, was also my former...