SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN Labor attorney Harriet Bouslog was a champion of the working class in Hawaii in the 1940s.

Event to honor isle
civil rights champion

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By Burl Burlingame
bburlingame@starbulletin.com

The first subject of this year's "Biography Hawaii -- Five Lives" series will be labor attorney Harriet Bouslog. The pioneer for civil rights will be remembered Thursday in a free evening of readings, reminiscences and discussion.

Among those speaking will be University of Hawaii regent and retired ILWU social worker Ah Quon McElrath; former Family Court justice Betty Vitousek; civil rights attorney Eric Seitz; labor historian Teresa Bill; Bouslog's former law partner Mark Bernstein; and Bouslog's husband, Stephen T. Sawyer.

'Biography Hawaii' When: 7 p.m. Thursday Place: King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center, 417 S. King St. Admission: Free Call: 956-3774 or e-mail biograph@hawaii.edu

They will read from Harriet Bouslog's speeches and writings, with questions and discussion to follow.

Few women lawyers were practicing in Hawaii during the 1940s, but Bouslog did not play it safe. She became a champion for the working class.

As the ILWU lawyer, she fought for fair labor laws and was instrumental in ending the death penalty in the territory. But it was her public profile during the trial of alleged communists known as the "Hawaii Seven" that was her finest hour. Her resistance led to her disbarment and subsequent reinstatement by the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark decision.

The event is co-sponsored by the Center for Biographical Research, UH-Manoa and the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center, with the support of the Hawaii Council for the Humanities. Future evenings will be devoted to Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, Gov. Sanford Dole, Princess Ruth Keelikolani and kumu hula Margaret Maiki Aiu Lake.

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