The GOG Hawaii Foundation created by Gary O. Galiher, a 1977 graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, has made a $500,000 gift to support the Law School’s new Clinical Building. The Conference Center in this new building will be named in Galiher’s honor. This new building, adjacent to the main Law School building on Dole Street, will be dedicated on September 6, 2019.
Galiher had an outstanding legal career. He was a pioneer and determined advocate passionately working on behalf of vulnerable clients, including those who faced diseases stemming from asbestos exposure. He was nationally renowned and he won numerous jury verdicts to compensate asbestos victims. He also was involved in helping Hawai‘i gain millions of dollars from the major tobacco litigation settlement. He spent his career zealously representing his clients and being an advocate to improve the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of Hawai‘i.
Before his tragic death in November, 2016 in a helicopter accident on Moloka‘i, Galiher established this charitable foundation. Through it, Galiher wanted to continue to foster causes to enhance the lives of the people of Hawai‘i. He had been a long-time supporter of his legal alma mater and supported many Law School projects, including the creation of a Distinguished Lecture Series, which brought outstanding speakers to the campus, as well as scholarship support for students with financial need.
Attorney Linda Monica, a former colleague of Galiher’s and a trustee of his foundation, explained how the foundation came about. “Gary was very grateful for the success he found both personally and professionally in the law. Through his Foundation, he wanted to support causes that he believed would help lead to the commitment by others to be advocates for those who needed to be heard.”
Willis Choy, another Foundation trustee and longtime friend of Galiher’s, explained: “This new Law School building where aspiring lawyers can gather to develop their skills and share their passions is exactly the kind of project that Gary would have wanted to support.” Debra Sakata, the Foundation’s third trustee, worked closely with Gary in his law firm, and she added, “The minute I saw this building that had such an open feel, I knew Gary would have loved it.”
The UH Board of Regents accepted this significant gift on behalf of the University of Hawai‘i and the Law School. Law School Dean Avi Soifer said, “We are extremely grateful for this generous gift from Gary, a member of the Law School’s second graduating class, who did so much through the years on behalf of the Law School.”
The gift from the GOG Hawaii Foundation will be administered by the UH Foundation, which handles philanthropy for the UH system.
Questions? / More Information
If you would like to learn how you can support UH students and programs like this, please contact us at 808 376-7800 or send us a message.
# # #
The University of Hawai‘i Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawai‘i System. The mission of the University of Hawai‘i Foundation is to unite donors’ passions with the University of Hawai‘i’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawai‘i and our future generations. www.uhfoundation.org
