Ho'olaulima Mediation Center

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Our Mission

Ho’olaulima Student Mediation Center provides students with a voluntary alternative for dispute resolution. The Center offers a formal, collaborative and confidential process that enables disputants to see their mutual responsibility for the dispute and promotes resolutions that are created and negotiated by the disputants to meet each side’s needs and interests.

Who Does Ho`olaulima Serve?

  • The Center serves current UH-Hilo and HawCC students.               

  • Requests for mediation must be initiated by a student of UH-Hilo or  Haw CC.
  • UH-Hilo and HawCC faculty, staff, and administrators are encouraged to refer situations to Ho’olaulima. While they may be involved in a situation and participate in the mediation, they are not eligible to initiate the request for mediation services.

How Does Someone Use The Center's services?

  • Students are able to resolve conflicts on their own without intervention and/or action by others, including faculty, staff or administration.
  • Any UH-Hilo or Haw CC student may contact Ho’olaulima via phone- 933-8823, Email agomesfi@hawaii.edu or in person- Campus Center 310.
  • The student coordinator will conduct the initial intake, getting the basic information including: who is filing the dispute, who else is may be involved, what the dispute seems to be, if the person is willing to have the dispute mediated, and the person’s availability.
  • The other party(ies) will be contacted and given a summary of the situation. The person will be encouraged to mediate the dispute with the assistance of volunteer peer mediators.
  • The intake person will coordinate and confirm a date and time when all parties and mediators are available.

Where Does Mediation Happen?

Mediation intake and sessions are conducted in Center’s office located in the Campus Center, room 310.

Who Are The Mediators?

  • *All mediators are currently enrolled UH-Hilo or HawCC students who have completed 20+ hours of training.
  • Continuing training for mediators is offered throughout the academic year to improve, refine and enhance mediators skills to provide a quality program.
  • Students interested in becoming peer mediators should contact Ho’olaulima for information on new training dates.

Who Coordinates The Center?

  • Alicia Gomes-Figueira, UH-Hilo Student Coordinator & Mediator
  • Ellen Kusano, Advisor

About Alicia "Tinkerbell" Gomes-Figueira

Alicia Alicia, fondly known as "Tinkerbell" is a transferring Junior at UH-Hilo. Before coming to us here at UHH, she spent time at our sister institution, Haw CC. While there she was involved in clubs and the Associated students of UH-HawCC (student government).She also served on the then-combined UHH.HawCC Student Activities Council (SAC). "Tinkerbell" was the acting Secretary for the 2004-2005 term and Event Planner for the 2005-2006 term. This energetic young woman continued to develop her leadership expertise and experience as Chair of the Campus Center Fee Board in summer and fall 2006. Tinkerbell has been involved with Ho’olaulima Student Mediation Center since 2005, initially as a peer mediator and now as a student coordinator. “Tinkerbell” earned her Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts in 2005 and a Certificate of Completion in Human Services in 2003; both from Haw CC. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication here at UH-Hilo.