Ku‘ikahi honors volunteer mediators

Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center recently honored its valued cadre of volunteers with a Volunteer Appreciation Party at Nani Mau Gardens.

Two mediators received Ku‘ikahi’s 2015 Volunteer of the Year award: Kathy Hammes, who completed her basic mediation training in 1989 and Evelyn Pacheco, trained in 1994.

“Both women have been committed for over two decades to the peaceful resolution of conflicts in our community,” said Ku‘ikahi Executive Director Julie Mitchell. “We absolutely appreciate the exceptional dedication and service of these two women.”

In honor of the event, state Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald provided certificates of appreciation from the Hawaii Supreme Court to all of Ku‘ikahi’s mediators.

In 2015, 44 mediators and apprentices provided more than 1,369 hours of service in mediations at East Hawaii’s nonprofit community mediation center.

“Most people don’t know that our mediation services are provided entirely by professionally trained volunteer mediators,” Mitchell said. “These are amazing folks from all walks of life and career backgrounds who donate their time to help community members resolve issues that matter to them.”

Mediators go through a four-day basic mediation training course and then an apprenticeship program before being selected to become Ku‘ikahi mediators. In addition, mediators take continuing education to increase their skills and knowledge, especially in specialized areas such as foreclosure, civil rights and domestic mediations.

Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center provides mediations for a variety of situations, including divorce, child custody and visitation, neighbor-to-neighbor, consumer-merchant, real estate, landlord-tenant, workplace, business, small and large group facilitations, and more.

For more information, call 935-7844 or visit www.hawaiimediation.org.