[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 22, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S5264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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            REMEMBERING CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM S. RICHARDSON

 Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, in Hawaii all beaches are public. It 
is one of the things that makes our State a special place, and it is 
due to a landmark 1968 ruling by the Hawaii Supreme Court authored by 
Chief Justice William S. Richardson. As a military veteran, attorney, 
political party leader, elected official, State supreme court justice 
and trustee of Hawaii's largest private landowner, Chief Justice 
Richardson's many contributions helped shape our Nation's youngest 
State. This great man, a dear brother and friend, died yesterday at the 
age of 90.
  As Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court from 1966 to 1982, C.J., 
as many of us affectionately knew him, did so much to preserve Hawaii's 
rich culture and heritage. As he explained it:

       Hawaii has a unique legal system, a system of laws that was 
     originally built on an ancient and traditional culture. While 
     that ancient culture had largely been displaced, nevertheless 
     many of the underlying guiding principles remained. During 
     the years after the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom 
     in 1893 and through Hawaii's territorial period, the 
     decisions of our highest court reflected a primarily Western 
     orientation and sensibility that wasn't a comfortable fit 
     with Hawaii's indigenous people and the immigrant population. 
     Thus, we made a conscious effort to look to Hawaiian custom 
     and tradition in deciding our cases--and consistent with 
     Hawaiian practice.

  A self-described ``local boy from Hawaii,'' C.J. graduated from 
Roosevelt High School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and 
received his law degree from the University of Cincinnati. In World War 
II, he joined the U.S. Army and served as a platoon leader with the 1st 
Filipino Infantry Regiment. He was later inducted into the Infantry 
Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame. C.J. served as the chairman of 
the Hawaii Democratic Party and as the State's first Lieutenant 
Governor of Hawaiian ancestry. Upon retirement from the Hawaii Supreme 
Court, Chief Justice Richardson served as a trustee of the Kamehameha 
Schools.
  C.J.'s modest beginnings influenced his future dedication to the 
underrepresented, minority, and indigenous communities of Hawaii. His 
mixed heritage of native Hawaiian, Chinese, and Caucasian ancestry 
reflected the diverse culture and history of the people. He understood 
the issues most important to the people and fought hard to ensure that 
the legal system provided remedies for the most vulnerable populations. 
He will also be remembered for his work to establish the State's only 
law school--The William S. Richardson School of Law. Chief Justice 
Richardson fought vigorously for its creation because he believed 
Hawaii students who could not travel to or afford mainland law schools 
should have an opportunity to study law nevertheless.
  Chief Justice Richardson was a true son of Hawaii. He lived his life 
in service to others and did so with a warm and kind disposition. We 
celebrate his life, achievements, and contributions to the State of 
Hawaii.

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