Chuhinka, Michael S.

Rai Saint Chu, born in China, grew up in South Carolina and Pennsylvania, and then attained a BA degree from the University of Maryland and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland Law School.

Since 1972, Ms. Chu has had a variety of legal and related experiences that enrich her ability to represent her clients. She has worked as a Deputy Public Defender, Legal Aid attorney, lobbyist for the Mental Health Association of Hawaii, attorney for the State House of Representatives, practitioner in various small firms and currently a partner with Turbin Chu, Attorneys primarily a plaintiff's personal injury practice. She has tried over 30 jury trials and hundreds of other legal proceedings in all the Courts and many State agencies in Hawaii.

LEGAL COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP - Rai Saint Chu as the 2009 President of the Hawaii State Bar Association, has served on the boards of the Young Lawyers Division and the Hawaii bar board and chaired the Communications and Public Relations Committee and a member of the Judicial Administration Committee, as well as chairing the 1993 & 2005 HSBA annual fundraisers. She has regularly attended /participated and made presentations in ABA meetings and law programs all over the US and the world, giving her a national perspective on many legal issues, the legal profession, as well as other enriching opportunities.

GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE - As an elected delegate to the 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention, she was involved in the legal creation of the Judicial Selection Commission, the Intermediate Court of Appeals, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, etc. She was a candidate for State House and elected delegate to several national political conventions. She has also served on the Honolulu Reapportionment Commission, an officer & chair of non profits, such as the Girl Scout Council of Hawaii, Junior League of Honolulu, Punahou Carnival and Planned Parenthood of Hawaii.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES - In 1976, she founded Hawaii Women Lawyers, a leading women's professional group in Hawaii. As a President of the Hawaii Women's Legal Foundation, she initiated fundraisers, which through the years has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for women and children in our community. As a board member of the Consumer Lawyers of Hawaii, she chaired the 2000 and 2003 Celebration of Justice Dinners. She also chaired the Family Court's first Child Support Guidelines Committee and initiated a study on the Economic Impact of Divorce, upon obtaining $50,000 from the state legislature.