Guardians of Liberty and Justice Youth Award
Established in 2003 with the generous ongoing support of Dr. Leslie Wilbur, the ACLU of Hawaii Foundation's Guardians of Liberty and Justice Youth Award recognizes the work of Hawai‘i's young people in the vanguard of civil rights. Compelled by conscience, past winners overcame intolerance, ignorance and administrative opposition to lead freedom and equality forward. We encourage you to read their amazing stories - see the navigation bar to the right for an index of all past awards. We also urge you to nominate your own youth civil liberties hero! Anyone can make a nomination. Self-nominations are also accepted. Top prize is an unrestricted $1000.00 cash award, and a two-year "card-carrying" membership in the ACLU! A second prize of $500 may also be awarded.
• Youth Award nominations are open year-round.
• The 2009 Award nomination deadline is 10/16/09.
• Applications received after 10/16/09 will be considered for the 2010 award.
• Nominee criteria: - lives in the State of Hawai‘i (any island)
- civil liberties activism occurred in Hawai‘i & within 18 mos. of nomination
- nominee was up to 21 years old at the time of the activism
- nominee is willing to participate in the application process (see form)
- nominee is willing to be publicly acknowledged for their work
- civil liberties activism occurred in Hawai‘i & within 18 mos. of nomination
- nominee was up to 21 years old at the time of the activism
- nominee is willing to participate in the application process (see form)
- nominee is willing to be publicly acknowledged for their work
Nomination Form (PDF 46KB)
If you are unable to use the Nomination Form above, please email office@acluhawaii.org, call us at (808)522-5904 or fax to (808)522-5909.
Disability access: Please inform us via fax, email or phone of any request for special accommodation needed in order to nominate your candidate or for a candidate to complete the application process. Submit your accommodation request at least (two)2 weeks prior to the nomination deadline. We will always attempt to fulfill requests received.
Guardians of Liberty and Justice Youth Awards - 2007 Highlights
7/7/07 the 2007 Awards Ceremony honoring the grand prize winner Daniel Coakley and second place winner Flora Oh was a great success.
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| Daniel Coakely receiving the grand prize from Justice Steven Levinson | Flora Oh receiving the second prize from Justice Steven Levinson |
ACLU of Hawaii President Sheryl Nicholson brought congratulations from the Board of Directors. The Honorable Steven Levinson of the Hawaii State Supreme Court spoke on "The Importance of Civics Education and Action in our Public Schools". Board of Education Chairperson Karen Knudsen discussed "Promoting Diversity and Freedom of Expression in our Public Schools". Finally, ACLU of Hawaii Legal Director Lois Perrin spoke on "The ACLU Position on the Rights of Students". The prizes were awarded by Youth Award Committee Chair Esther Solomon and Justice Levinson, with the help of Sheryl Nicholson.
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| L-R: Lois Perrin, Flora Oh, Justice Steven Levinson, Daniel Coakley, Karen Knudsen, Sheryl Nicholson | L-R: Vanessa Chong, Flora Oh, Daniel Coakley, Les Wilbur |
Grand prize of $1000 and a 2-year ACLU membership went to Daniel Coakley of Kapaau. While attending Kohala High School, Daniel attempted to confront his school's uniform policy through his teachers, counselors, administrators, student government and finally the Department of Education (DOE). Although a uniform waiver policy existed within the DOE administrative framework, it took 2 years of refusal to wear the uniform and persistent inquiry for Daniel to be told about it. Daniel's concerns were met by his school not with accommodation or information, but with punishment. He was repeatedly given detention, barred from his prom and denied extracurricular activities. As a result of Daniel's actions, students and teachers at Kohala High are now more aware of the waiver rule. Daniel's teacher said that his protest "had a huge impact (on the administration)" and caused a "ripple effect" of change. The ACLU believes that when a school chooses to enforce uniforms, it must provide a waiver option, with waiver information clearly communicated to students and parents and applied in a fair and consistent manner. Daniel's activism underscores the importance of better school-level awareness of and cooperation with the uniform waiver policy.
The second prize of $500 and a two year ACLU membership goes to Flora Oh of Kalani High School, who was the organizing catalyst for a spontaneous demonstration at her school in response to a DOE decision to reassign the school's popular and respected principal. Flora began demonstrating upon hearing the news - without stopping to question if she would get punished or suspended for doing so. Her demonstration was quickly joined by students and even some teachers and staff, and was covered by local media. Flora and her supporters gathered over 500 signatures in hopes of convincing the DOE to change its mind. "The ACLU is inspired by Flora's use of peaceful protest and petition to make the students' voices heard. In a time where many students assume they have no constitutionally protected rights at school, Flora used her conscience and her constitutional freedoms to the fullest." said Esther Solomon, Chair of the 2007 Youth Award Committee.
The Guardians of Liberty and Justice Youth Award is underwritten by generous support from Leslie Wilbur.
Les Wilbur and Violet Sato
Ph.: (808)522-5900 Fax: (808)522-5909 Email: office@acluhawaii.org
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