Welcome to ACR-Hawaii

Aloha and welcome to ACR-Hawaii!

1.  Programs and Events.  Our programs for 2008 are beginning to roll.

• On April 24 we and HSBA's ADR Section held a roundtable discussion titled Mediating Cases in Hawaii's Courts: "Opportunities For Members To Share Best Practices with our Judges".  We're putting together our minutes to summarize the outcomes and observations of the dialogue.  An optional dinner added to the evenig programs networking opportunities.
• May 13 we have a members meeting to discuss "Interactions Between Mediation and Arbitration".
• We've begun consideration of a July 4, watch the fireworks at Kaneohe Bay, social for members and their guests.

2.  Practice Communities.  We are piloting practice communities where like minded professional mediators in specific areas of practice can get together in colegilaity to improve their skills and utilize those skills to prepare programs for and educate the public.  We are focusing on family and business as the two areas for our pilots.

3.  Strategic Planning.  We are in the process of developing our strategic plan.

• Luncheons have been held on Mondays for members to provide their thoughts and inputs.
• One luncheon meeting is focused on our strategies for developing practice communities.
• The Board of Directors will receive a draft strategic plan for review at our May meeting.

4.  Membership Drive.  Approximately 60% of our 2007 membership has already renewed their membership.  We continue to request early renewals so as to build up our finances.

5.  While we are developing our web based newsletter we are handling our communications with our members through e-mail blasts each month.

6.  We are awaiting an IRS ruling accepting us as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization under the umbrella of ACR-National.

If you wish to contact us please do so through:

acrhawaii@yahoo.com or call Leo at 808-393-0687.

Mahalo,

Leo Hura,

2008 President ACR-Hawaii

"Blow Hole" - Natures example of a relationship and conflict. 

There always is tension between our island and the sea. The photograph above is of "blow hole" on Oahu's East Shore.  The sea enters under the lava and exits in a geyser like stream through the opening in the base of the lava plate near the post, thrilling viewers when it explodes .    However, at times the sea gets so roiled up it overwhelms blow holes capacity to handle the water or waves crash above the lava plate prematurely eroding the lava. 

The difference between nature and people?  We work with people to keep the natural tension in relationships from becoming destructive.