Let the Record Show: UC Law SF Historic Ties to Hawaii Remain Strong 

UC Law SF alumni from the Honolulu area and UC Law SF officials gathered on Sept. 25 to formally launch the Hawaii Alumni Chapter.

In the summer of 1966, the Hastings Alumni of Hawaii convened for the first time with 33 alumni in attendance, along with UC Law San Francisco deans and professors.  

The meeting in Hawaii was organized as part of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, and Hastings was featured prominently. Conference attendees heard an initial address from Henry C. Todd ’37, who would be elected to the Alumni Board of Governors the following year.  

UC Law SF was known as “Hawaii’s law school” for decades thanks to word-of-mouth from a robust group of alumni and a former California policy that started in the 1950s allowing law students from Hawaii to pay in-state tuition.

Even after Hawaii established its own law school in 1973 and the tuition policy ended, the long-standing tradition of Hawaiian residents applying to UC Law SF continued, and more fond memories were created.  

“We had a lot of camaraderie — studying together, playing sports, and making pies and turkeys together at Thanksgiving when we couldn’t go home. It was like family,” said Coralie Chun Matayoshi ’81 2015 edition of the UC Hastings magazine. Coralie Chun Matayoshi is the former executive director of the Hawaii State Bar Association and former CEO of the American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region. Her daughter, Kelly Matayoshi ’12, called UC Law SF the “natural choice” after growing up hearing positive recollections about the school from multiple family members.  

UC Law SF graduates have gone on to serve as judges and elected officials, work as attorneys at large firms, and lead major corporations in the Aloha State. Alumni from Hawaii have also remained highly engaged with the College, such as by serving on UC Law SF boards, planning events, and raising thousands of dollars for student scholarships. For instance, Kelly Matayoshi formerly served as the President of the UC Law SF Alumni Association Board of Governors.

The dedicated group of alumni also conducts student outreach in support of Hawaii residents who want to attend law school. Their efforts make a legal education more accessible and help continue the enduring legacy of students from Hawaii at UC Law SF.  

The Hawaii Scholarship for UC Law SF students has supported students financially since 2017 after being spearheaded by Cheryl Hetherington ’79 and her husband, George Hetherington ’78. “UC Hastings has contributed tremendously to the legal profession in Hawaii,” Cheryl Hetherington previously explained in 2015. “We want to see that continue.” 

After years of strong support for UC Law SF from the alumni community in Hawaii, the Hawaii Alumni Chapter held a kick-off event for its formal establishment on Sept. 25 in Honolulu. Alumni from the area came together to network and celebrate each other’s professional accomplishments and connect with UC Law SF officials, including Chancellor & Dean David Faigman. Interested alumni can keep in touch through UC Law SF Alumni Association programming.

Let the Record Show is an occasional series that showcases people, moments, and milestones from UC Law San Francisco’s past.