K. U’ilani Goods Takes the Helm as Managing Attorney for Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i’s Maui Office

​The Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i is pleased to announce the hiring of K. U’ilani Goods as the new managing attorney for its Maui County office. This appointment comes at a crucial time, following the recent Maui fires, where legal assistance is imperative for affected families.

In this role, Ms. Goods will lead a dedicated team in offices across Maui, Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i to provide direct legal services, community engagement, outreach and education, and statewide legal services initiatives.

As an attorney, Ms. Goods will be hands-on representing Legal Aid clients in the areas of family law, public assistance benefits, housing and consumer protection, and senior legal services.

As a former longtime Maui resident with deep roots off the shores of Hāmoa, Ms. Goods is familiar with Legal Aid’s advocacy and the legal needs of the community, having served 15 years ago as an AmeriCorps Advocate in our Maui Office before leaving the island to attend William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai‘i. She also served as an Intake Paralegal in Legal Aid’s Honolulu office while attending law school.

“It is my honor to return to Legal Aid Maui to serve,” says Ms. Goods, whose experience as an AmeriCorps Advocate revealed a strong calling to serve the community. “While the recent devastation at home has left our hearts with seemingly indelible wounds, it has also ignited deep compassion and a call to aid. I had left Maui to attend law school with every intention to return and continue the work as a licensed attorney.”

Ms. Goods attended Maui High School from 1989-1990 and graduated from Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama. She earned her B.A. from Idaho State University and her Juris Doctorate from William S. Richardson School of Law.

In addition to her previous work with Legal Aid, Ms. Goods’ public interest law experience also includes services as a Legal Advocate with the Richardson School of Law’s Medical-Legal Partnership.

Most recently, Ms. Goods worked with King Nakamura & Chun-Hoon as a Labor Arbitration Advocate, Staff Attorney, and Managing Attorney. In these various roles, she supervised staff and office affairs, managed and represented labor and employment cases, drafted arguments and memoranda, and negotiated settlement agreements.

​Her expertise includes administrative law, grievance arbitration, and project and client management.

“It is a great honor to welcome Uʻi back to her legal roots at Legal Aid, and to support her profound dedication and commitment to serving her community,” says David Kauila Kopper, Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi’s Executive Director. “We are confident that Ms. Goods’ leadership will strengthen Legal Aid’s impact throughout Maui Nui, fostering a stronger, more resilient legal support system for those in need.”