Mrs. Bowman's students raise their hands to answer questions posed by Judge Ronald Ibarra in the quiz. (Photo special to Hawaii 24/7 by Margaret Masunaga)

Reporting by Margaret Masunaga | Special to Hawaii 24/7

The Judiciary, West Hawaii Bar Association, and Young Lawyers Division of the Hawaii State Bar Association, & Friends of Big Island Drug Court sponsored Courtroom field trips for third graders from Konawaena and Kealakehe elementary schools to help mark Law Week at Drug Court in Kealakekua.

On April 29, the tirrd grade classes of Mrs. Kunitomo, Mrs. Iwanaga, Mrs. Bowman, and Mrs. O’Daniel from Konawaena
visited Judge Ronald Ibarra’s courtroom.

The students also participated in a poster contest based on the national Drug Court theme, “Living Drug Free – So Good To Be Me.”

Carol Kitaoka is in charge of the contest and the winners will be announced later in May.

The American Bar Association’s May 1 Law Day theme is “The Legacy of John Adams,” the first lawyer president of the U.S. in 1797.

Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Sabrina McKenna will be the guest of the West Hawaii Bar Association to celebrate Law Week.

The gathering with attorneys and judges is 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5 at Kenichi’s. Cost is free to WHBA members and $30 to non-members (no host bar).

To RSVP, email Margaret Masunaga at mkmasunaga@aol.com or call 987-1046.

McKenna is the first UH Richardson School of Law graduate to serve on the Hawaii Supreme Court & the first Rainbow Wahine. She was Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s first appointment.

She served as a First Circuit Judge for 17 years. McKenna also worked as a UH law professor, in-house counsel for Otake Inc. (Kona Country Club & former owner of the Kona Surf), and Associate at Goodsill Anderson, Quinn & Stifel.

Also present at the pau hana event will be U.S. Attorney Flo Nakakuni, Judge Ronald Ibarra, Judge Joseph Florendo, WHBA President Bob Kim & Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi.

On Saturday, May 7, the Young Lawyers Division of the HSBA is sponsoring a legal clinic 10 a.m.-2 p.m. outside KTA at the Kona Coast Shopping Center.

For more information on the Meet a Lawyer clinic call 537-1868 or emboli yld@hsba.org

For more information on Kona Law Week 2011, contact Margaret Masunaga, WHBA officer and ABA State Delegate, at 987-1046.

Mrs. Pattie Kunitomo's students listen to Judge Ronald Ibarra in his chambers. (Photo special to Hawaii 24/7 by Margaret Masunaga)