About the Center

Hawai`i’s Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution (CADR):

• Helps design and implement dispute resolution systems for the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of government (state and county).
• Mediates and facilitates a limited number of disputes dealing with public policy or complex litigation referred by judges, legislators, agency heads, or elected or appointed government officials.
• Manages the Judiciary’s Purchase of Services contract with the statewide community mediation centers.
• Promotes ADR through research, training, education programs, forums, publication of newsletters, consumer guides, and other informational materials.

CADR was founded by Chief Justice Herman Lum in 1985 with support and assistance from the National Institute for Dispute Resolution in Washington, D.C. It became a permanent office within the state Judiciary in 1989.