Category: News

NEWS RELEASE Hilo, Hawai‘i – March 23, 2015 – This April, May, and June, the general public can support the non-profit Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center by purchasing gasoline at any Ohana Fuels (Minit Stop) in East Hawai‘i. “We are so honored to be selected as the beneficiary for Ohana Fuel’s ‘Fuel Up, Do Good’ program,” said Ku‘ikahi Executive Director Julie Mitchell. “This spring, we ask that folks please consider fueling up at one of the four Minit Stops in East Hawai‘i.” Participating Ohana Fuels (Minit Stop) gas stations include two in Hilo, both located on Highway 11. The first is at the corner of Puainako Street, and the second is at the corner of Leilani Street. The third is located in Laupahoehoe on Highway 19. The fourth is located in Kea‘au on Orchidland Drive (off Highway 130). “At Ohana Fuels, ‘family’ is our first priority – which means we’re proud to support the organizations and needs important to the neighborhoods we serve. Each quarter, we donate a portion of every customer purchase to a local charity in the community,” said a company spokesperson. Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center empowers people to come together–to talk and to listen, to explore options, and to find their own best solutions. To achieve this mission, Ku’ikahi offers mediation, facilitation, and training to strengthen the ability of diverse individuals and groups to resolve interpersonal conflicts and community issues. Please help support Ku’ikahi Mediation Center by making your fuel purchases at any of Ohana Fuels four convenient locations. For more information, visit www.hawaiimediation.org or www.ohanafuels.com # # #  

An estimated 40,000 British Columbians who are fighting small claims or strata disputes each year will soon be able to use their laptops or handheld devices to access a government system that aims to resolve legal matters quickly and cheaply. Attorney-General Suzanne Anton said the government is set to introduce Canada’s first mandatory online tribunal system to settle minor disputes involving small claims court and strata councils without setting foot in local courthouses. She said “We’re actually the first in the world to be doing this. You can start your claim at midnight from your desktop at home. The online tribunal will involve a three-stage process, starting with attempts by both sides to resolve the issue on their own, progressing to mediation and concluding with a tribunal member with powers to decide the matter.” Read on PS: Interested to learn more about online mediation? Sign up for Introduction to Online Mediation, a 1-hour Free webinar for members of ACR Hawaii and the Hawaii State Bar Association ADR Section. It will be held on April 8 (from Noon to 1:00pm), and will be presented by Giuseppe Leone, founder of Virtual Mediation Lab, an online mediation project sponsored by ACR Hawaii.

The February 25, 2015 event “The Future of Mediation: A Dialogue with Ken Cloke and Peter Adler” was a great success. Here are some comments we heard afterwards: “I really like the informal interview approach – it seemed to draw out something deeper about the work we do.” “I was struck by the breadth and depth of conflict resolution experience revealed as Peter and Ken talked together.” “The examples Ken Cloke gave from his practice and writing over the years, made me think about the influences in our lives and how I have also evolved as a mediator.” If you didn’t attend that event, you can now watch its 100-min video recording

Instead of settling in court low-value civil cases in England and Wales, a new report from the Civil Justice Council says these disputes should be settled online. National Public Radio Scott Simon talks to the author Richard Susskind

The Winter 2015 issue of ACResolution Magazine will feature articles on conflict resolution and prevention in the commercial and consumer arenas. Co-editors Bill Stempel and (ACR Hawaii member) Cindy Alm are seeking well-written articles on a wide range of topics including the use of mediation, arbitration, on-line and other dispute resolution processes in business to business, business to consumer, family business, real estate, financial services and other business-related disputes. Deadline for submissions is March 2, 2015. If you are a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution and need more info, click here

Mediate.com has published recently two articles written by Elizabeth Kent, an ADR practitioner and ACR Hawaii member. January 2015 – Celebrate Groundhog Day! How Punxsutawney Phil Helps Me Help People February 2015 – The “Peter Principle” Revisited

NEWS RELEASE Hilo, Hawai‘i – February 5, 2015 – The non-profit Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center received a $5,000 grant from the Cooke Foundation to launch a school peer mediation program in East Hawai‘i. During the 2014-2015 school year, 40 fourth and fifth graders were trained how to mediate disputes among students at Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School (LCPCS). “Ku‘ikahi is thrilled to partner with LCPCS for our East Hawai‘i Peer Mediation Elementary School Pilot Project,” said Ku‘ikahi Executive Director Julie Mitchell. “The school director, Alapaki Nahale-a, and the school counselor, Karen Lee Holderman, are both trained mediators who fully support the program.” In 2010, the Hawai‘i Department of Education (DOE) Safe Schools Community Advisory Committee established several recommendations to address conflict in the schools, including establishing a school community culture that creates and encourages an environment of safety and respect. Through peer mediation, students learn to work effectively with their schoolmates to facilitate positive outcomes. Students in conflict can request mediation or be referred by staff or other students. Mediators work in pairs and help disputants reach and document agreements that are safe, fair, and doable. Peer mediation is both a program and a process where students of the same age-group facilitate resolving disputes between two people or small groups. This process has proven effective in schools around the United States and in Hawai‘i, changing the way students understand and resolve conflict in their lives. Changes include improved self-esteem, listening and critical thinking skills, and school climate for learning, as well as reduced disciplinary actions and fewer fights. These skills are transferable outside of the classroom. “We are grateful to be partnering with West Hawai‘i Mediation Center (WHMC) to extend their successful Working it Out! school peer mediation program into East Hawai‘i,” Mitchell stated. “By utilizing WHMC’s skills and expertise, Ku‘ikahi…

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Today, Nancy Flatters (President of ACR National) announced the following: Justin R. Corbett is the new ACR Executive Director. Justin is a long-time advocate for our field with prior executive experience ranging from local programs to a national association. He brings a wealth of collaborative relationships, technical know-how, and a passion that will help move ACR toward its more expansive horizon. ACR is commencing an informed and reflective process of re-aligning its organizational resources to better support the development of resources based on members’ interests and needs. For more information about these important announcements click here 

Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center is offering free mediations to community members facing disputes related to Iselle, the tropical storm that buffeted the Big Island and Maui in August, bringing strong winds, heavy rains, downed trees and power outages. Ku‘ikahi is also providing free facilitations for larger group discussions – such as homeowner’s associations – to resolve community issues related to Iselle. These free services are made possible by Hawai‘i Island United Way funds that were specifically earmarked to help Puna residents in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Iselle. For more information contact Julie Mitchell, Ku‘ikahi Executive Director. Her phone number is (808) 935-7844 ext. 5 and email address julie@hawaiimediation.org