Denise Antolini

Professor Denise Antolini of the William S. Richardson School of Law has contributed tirelessly for decades in the legal sphere in the name of conservation and environmental justice. She inspires, influences and provides tools and opportunities for generations of environmental attorneys to protect the natural resources of Hawaiʻi and the communities that depend on them. Her impressive litigation career has had significant impacts in the community by empowering and supporting branches of State government, enabling the State to more effectively play its role in the conservation of the natural and cultural resources of Hawaiʻi. Under her leadership, organizations such as Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea have grown into a successful, resilient, active, relevant and informed community organizations with partnerships with government agencies, community organizations and individuals to advance environmental science, cultural knowledge, and the entire community. Professor Antolini is equally active on the international stage, ensuring that conservation efforts around the globe are aligned in the legal realm. In the words of her colleagues, she is a “woman of the world within the context of our worldwide climate crisis.”