LIHUE — Kauai’s Economic Opportunity Inc. will mark an impressive milestone in 2025, celebrating 60 years of helping Kauai residents resolve disputes through effective mediation.
Mediation is a collaborative process used to resolve disputes outside of the courtroom. In civil cases, mediation brings together parties in disagreement to mediate a conflict before a trial date is given.
Since its inception in 1965, the non-profit known as KEO has provided the community with many programs such as emergency shelters, transitional housing and the Meals on Wheels program, among many others.
In 1997, KEO merged with Kauai’s Fifth District Court and agreed to include community mediation for all island residents at an affordable cost. In the last year, KEO has served more than 4,000 disadvantaged individuals.
To celebrate the impressive milestone and to illuminate the success of the KEO Mediation Program, Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami issued a proclamation and declared Oct. 17 as Conflict Resolution Day.
“I want to thank you folks (mediators) for giving people the tools to resolve disputes, conflicts and arguments in a civil way,” said Kawakami.
“There are alternative methods to coming to an understanding vs. arguing, yelling, fighting and war,” he added. “I really think that the work they are doing here if translated across the world would help to make the world a more peaceful place to live. It’s really incumbent upon all of us to learn how to go about our lives and understand that we’re not all going to agree on things but we are all human and we should all have some level of empathy to understand where people are coming from.”
KEO’s professionally trained mediator volunteers have received a certificate of recognition highlighting 137 district court cases from July 2023 to June 2024. Of the 137 cases, 87 cases were successfully resolved with mediation agreements.
This means that of those 87 resolved cases, the individuals did not need a court trial, saving the court’s time, saving the public’s tax dollars, and saving many potential jurors from having to show up in court.
“Mediation has broadened my understanding of the judicial system,” said Vicki Agor, senior volunteer mediator. “It provided insight on how to be effective in bringing about resolution and results, and taught a great respect for the judges and court officials of the State of Hawaii Judiciary.”
On Nov. 1, during the annual Mediation Centers of Hawaii luncheon, Tracy Wiltgen, executive director of the Mediation Center of the Pacific in Honolulu, emphasized the effective advantages business/ workplace mediation can provide, such as a healthier work environment where relationships can strengthen and thrive.
“Unresolved conflict in the workplace is costly,” said Wiltgen. “It leads to decreased productivity, low morale and the loss of valued employees. Resolving conflict through mediation enables the people in conflict to address their issues privately, safely and quickly, saving the company money and restoring a positive work environment.”
KEO’s program is one of the five mediation centers under the Mediation Centers of Hawaii, and is always updating and upgrading. Currently, its Peer Mediation Program is being reconstructed into a program more suitable for children. It will be capable of providing co-parenting group workshops/classes, a program focused on children affected by challenging events such as divorcing parents, or social issues such as cyberbullying.
“I want all people to be empowered to help ourselves and one of the keys to being empowered is good communication skills,” said Emma Ladendecker, KEO’s mediating director. “These skills include active listening, asking questions, communicating in a way that can be heard and not shut-out, and understanding other perspectives. When they are present in the context of a mediation, it is more likely that the parties are empowered to achieve good results.”
Family Court Judge Gregory Myers and KEO Board Chair J. Robertson also celebrated the program and encouraged all island residents to take advantage of the remarkable and successful services KEO provides— services considered invaluable by judges, litigants, attorneys and community members.
“The Judiciary is extremely thankful for KEO’s assistance in helping us resolve cases through mediation,” said Myers. “In particular, KEO’s work on family law matters has greatly increased efficiency in parents obtaining access to justice, while simultaneously reducing the stress, trauma and costs often associated with custody disputes coming through Family Court.”
For more information on KEO’s Mediation Program, call 808-425-4077 x234. For more information regarding KEO’s services, or for a full list of the types of conflicts that can be mediated, visit keoinc.org.
