HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-08-15 PL-INT-2025-011265 Jill D. Raznov, Esq. - Category PL.7 DeVera, Ashley
From: Jill Dana Raznov <jdraznov@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2025 11:29 AM
To: Planning Internet Mail
Subject: Statement of Qualification - Professional Services, Category PL.7
Attachments: COH-PD statement of qualifications 2025.pdf; Jill D. Raznov C.V. 2025 (updated).pdf
Aloha Director Darrow:
Please find my Statement of Qualification to be considered for the current professional services list
attached here with my C.V. Thank you for your consideration of my submission.
Mahalo,
Jill
Jill D. Raznov, Esq.
Law Office of Jill D. Raznov
AND
Owner - A Bridge to Communication, LLC
Mediation, Facilitation & Neutral Services
P.O. Box 10160
Hilo, Hawaii 96721
(808) 778-8992
jdraznov@gmail.com
abridgetocommunication.com
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"We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in
the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would
also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change
towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of
our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do."— Mahatma Gandhi
Jill D. Raznov, Esq.
Owner and Principal
• P.O. Box ioi6o, Hilo, Hawaii 96721
A Bridge to Communication,LLC, (808) 778-8992
jdraznov@gmail.com
http://abridgetocommunciation.com
August 15, 2025
Sent via email at planning@ghawaiicounty.gov
Jeffrey W. Darrow, Planning Director
County of Hawaii
ioi Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, HI 9672o
8o8-961-8288
Re: Statement of Qualification and Expression of Interest(HRS§io3D-3o4)—Professional
Services, Category PL.7 Community Planning (Land Use Hearing Officer,Attorneys,
Planners or others with experience)
Aloha Mr. Darrow:
Pursuant to the Notice to Providers of Professional Services,dated June 1, 2025, and the
Additional Notice, sent July 15, 2025, I wish to provide professional services to the County of Hawaii,
Nanning Department for fiscal year 2025-2026 in the following category:
PL.7) Community Planning(Land Use Hearing Officer,Attorney's, Planners or others with
experience)
My primary interest is in serving as a mediator for contested cases, and I am also available to
serve as a hearing officer in these types of matters as well. I have been a licensed Hawaii attorney since
2003, concentrating since 2012 in land use,real property,business transactions, contracts and
association governance. I trained as a volunteer mediator in 2006 at the Mediation Center of the Pacific
(MCP)in Honolulu and have mediated as a volunteer with Kuikahi Mediation Center(KMC)in Hilo since
2015,which I continue to do regularly. I have taken numerous professional trainings,most recently and
notably,the highly regarded 42-hour"Mediating the Litigated Case" offered by Straus Institute for
Dispute Resolution, Caruso School of Law, Pepperdine University in March 2021 and the Advanced
Mediator Skills and Professional Development Symposium offered by the Mediation Center of the Pacific,
and the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution,Appellate Mediation Program in June 2024. In
September 2021, I was awarded a contract with KMC to mediate for the Landlord-Tenant Eviction
Mediation Program(LTEMP), created and funded in August 2021 under House Bill 1376 (Act 57,
amending the Hawaii Landlord-Tenant Code, Section 521-68, Hawaii Revised Statutes).This law arose in
response to the Statewide eviction moratorium enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.Although Act 57
expired in August 2022, appropriated funds remained to expand the program into the Landlord-Tenant
Mediation Program(LTMP), and my contract was renewed through July 2024. I am also listed as a
mediator and facilitator with MCP's Access ADR program. In January 2022, I launched A Bridge to
Communication, LLC,providing private professional mediation,facilitation and neutral services. I am
the sole member of this business. I also continue to practice law as Of Counsel with the Law Offices of
Yeh&Kim, LLLC in Hilo. The firm partner is Ronald Kim,who may be reached via email at:
rkim@yehandkim.com and via phone at: (808) 961-0055. Please review my attached CV and website at
http://abridgetocommunication.com to learn more about my background and qualifications.
Recent mediations include:
1) Ongoing volunteer mediations with KMC(1-2x per month).Julie Mitchell is the Executive
Director of KMC and may be reached via email at: JuliePhawaiimediation.org and by
phone at: (808) 935-7844 ext. 5.
Jeffrey W. Darrow, Planning Director
Page 2
2) A mediation for the Planning Department, COH which began in mid-2o24 and
involved multiple petitioners,who were neighbors of a proposed Kona development, and
applicants,who were developers seeking an SMA use permit. Petitioners were all
unrepresented.Applicants were represented by local attorney Randy A.Vitousek III,who
may be reached via email at: rvitousekPcades.com and by phone at: (808)521-9345. The
COH was represented by attorney Jean Campell, Deputy Corporation Counsel,who can be
reached via email at JeanK.CampbellPhawaiicounty.gov and by phone at(808) 961-8251.
The mediation wrapped up in early 2025 with the petitioners withdrawing their petitions
for a contested case and a settlement agreement being fully executed by all parties.
3) Monthly mediations for the LTEMP/LTMP with KMC from August 2021 to July 2024.
4) A private mediation begun in mid-2o24 for an unrepresented family regarding jointly
owned and occupied property.The mediation took two months and resulted in a signed
mediation agreement between the parties.
5) A mediation begun in late 2022 between a group of three property owners who brought a
complaint against their neighbor regarding view planes.Attorneys Michael J. Matsukawa
and Emil Macasinag represented the parties.The mediation resulted in a signed MOA in
early 2023 that took about a year to reduce to a fully executed settlement agreement, on
which the attorneys worked privately and called me in to assist from time to time. Mr.
Matsukawa may be reached via email at: kapuluPmsn.com and by phone at(808) 329-
1385. Mr. Macasinag may be reached via email at emilPjungvassar.com and by phone at
(808)326-4852.
6) A private mediation with MCP's access ADR program in early to mid-2o23,between three
separate parties, one of whom was unrepresented,regarding defamation and other claims.
The mediation was extremely challenging and did not result in a settlement agreement.
Tracey Wiltgen is the Executive Director of MCP and may be reached via email at
traceyPmediatehawaii.org and via phone at(808)521-6767.
Please feel free to request any additional information you require. Thank you kindly for your time
and attention to this matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Very truly yours,
INI"J D. RAIN V, SQ.
Encl./
JILL D. RAZNOV, ESQ.
P.O. Box 10160, Hilo, Hawaii 96721
808-778-8992
jdraznov@gmail.com
EXPERIENCE—LAW
Of Counsel, Law Offices of Yeh & Kim, LLLC (fka Yeh & Moore), Hilo, Hawaii—July 2012 to present
Real property, land use, transactions, administrative law, condominium and homeowner
association governance and civil litigation.
Solo Practitioner,Jill D. Raznov, Esq., Attorney at Law, Hilo, Hawaii—January 2011 to present
General practice.
Staff Attorney,The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii — October 2007 to April 2010
Legal assistance and representation of indigent clients in family, landlord-tenant, child welfare
and consumer matters.
Associate, Ning, Lilly&Jones, Honolulu, Hawaii—November 2004 to October 2007
Complex commercial litigation.
Law Clerk,The Honorable Richard W. Pollack*, First Circuit Court, Honolulu, Hawaii—2003 to 2004
Researched and drafted memoranda, orders, findings and conclusions of law; assisted the Court
and the public. * Now Justice, Retired, Hawaii Supreme Court
Associate,The Nature Conservancy, Honolulu, Hawaii—Summer 2002
Researched and drafted memoranda; prepared land purchase agreements; participated in
native reforestation in the Waianae and Koolau mountain ranges.
Associate, Department of Health, Wastewater Branch, Honolulu, Hawaii—Summer 2001
Researched and drafted memoranda and consent decrees; investigated and reported on
environmental violations.
EXPERIENCE—MEDIATION/ARBITRATION
Owner/Principle,A Bridge to Communication, LLC—established January 2022
Providing mediation and neutral services.
Independent Contractor Mediator, Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program, Kuikahi Mediation
Center, Hilo, Hawaii—August 2021 to July 2024
Independent Contractor Mediator and facilitator,Access ADR program, Mediation Center of the Pacific,
Honolulu, Hawaii—March 2022 to present
Volunteer Mediator, Kuikahi Mediation Center, Hilo, Hawaii—2015 to present
Volunteer Arbitrator, Court Annexed Arbitration Program, Third Circuit Court, Hawaii—2014 to present
Volunteer Mediator, Mediation Center of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii—2005 to 2007
Jill D. Raznov—CV
Page 2
EXPERIENCE—OTHER
Jewish Community Services of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii (remote position)—October 2023 to March
2024
Case Manager and Community Outreach Liaison
Elementary School Teacher, Temple Beth Emanuel, Honolulu, Hawaii—January 2002 to May 2003
Hebrew and Jewish Studies.
Recycling Education Program Coordinator, Green Team, San Jose, California— 1998
Developed and presented recycling programs to school-age youth and adult ESL students;
conducted tours of company recycling plant.
Substitute Elementary and Middle School Teacher, Girard College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania— 1996 to
1997. Scholarship-based, inner-city, private boarding school.
Wilderness Adventure Course Instructor, Project USE,TREK Program, Red Bank, New Jersey—1995 to
1996. Co-led and facilitated 30-40-day wilderness adventure courses for adjudicated youth in
the Appalachians and throughout New England and the East Coast.
Experiential Education Teacher, Nature's Classroom, Charlton, Massachusetts —January to June 1995
Co-led and facilitated three-to-five-day interdisciplinary, experiential, and environmental
programs throughout New England.
Intern, Audubon Society, Environmental Education Center, New Hope, NewJersey—Summer 1993
Co-led, facilitated and prepared educational workshops, activities and displays.
EDUCATION
University of Hawaii at Manoa,William S. Richardson School of Law, Honolulu, Hawaii
Juris Doctor- Environmental Law Certificate—May 2003
Officer, Environmental Law Society—January 2002 to May 2003
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Arts, English Literature—December 1994
Bucks County Community College, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Matriculated—Spring 1992
Outward Bound, Leadville, Colorado—Winter 1994
Wilderness and mountaineering experiential, education program.
George Washington High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
H.S. Diploma—1988
Longacre Expeditions, Fort Collins, Colorado—Summer 1987
Wilderness and mountaineering experiential, education program.
Jill D. Raznov—CV
Page 3
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Director/Officer, Governing Board of Directors, Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science, Pahoa, Hawaii—
April 2015 to September 2023
Pro-Bono Attorney, Self Help Center, Third Circuit Court, Hilo, Hawaii—2013 to present
Director/Officer, Board of Directors, Ahava 'Aina, Hilo, Hawaii—August 2017 to August 2020
Jewish synagogue and community center.
Community Organizer, Puna Eruption, Pahoa, Hawaii—2018
Organized and presented two insurance forums regarding disaster claims with government
officials, other attorneys, public adjusters, FEMA, and United Policyholders.
Director, Board of Directors, Puna Community Medical Center, Pahoa, Hawaii—2013 to 2014
Director, Board of Directors, Neighborhood Place of Puna, Pahoa, Hawaii—2008 to 2012
Instructor, Kids First, First Circuit Court, Honolulu, Hawaii—2005 to 2006
Co-led Family Court educational program for children of divorce.
Community Organizer, Surfrider Foundation, Santa Cruz, California— 1998 to 1999
Organized and co-led beach cleanups and community events.
Writing Instructor, Rodriguez Branch Public Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—1997 to 1998
Established and led creative writing workshops for school-age youth.
Literacy Tutor, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—1992 to 1993
Neighborhood outreach literacy project serving both school-age youth and adults.
HONORS/AWARDS/ RECOGNITIIONS
Certificate of Service, issued by the Judiciary, State of Hawaii, in recognition of community service as a
volunteer attorney, Hilo Self Help Center,Third Circuit Court—June 7, 2024,June 8, 2023, May
24, 2022 and January 8, 2018
Certificate of Appreciation, issued by the county of Hawaii, in recognition of community service as a
volunteer attorney, Hilo Self Help Center,Third Circuit Court—May 24, 2022
Certificate of Appreciation, issued by the Supreme Court, State of Hawaii, in recognition of community
service as a volunteer mediator, Kuikahi Mediation Center—March 22, 2018 and February 19,
2016
Certificate of Service, issued by the Judiciary and House of Representatives, State of Hawaii, in
recognition of community service as a volunteer attorney, Hilo Self Help Center, Third Circuit
Court—June 14, 2013
Diversity Fellowship in Environmental Law, University of Hawaii at Manoa, William S. Richardson School
of Law, Honolulu, Hawaii —Spring 2002
Jill D. Raznov—CV
Page 4
Honu Scholarship, Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, Eugene, Oregon—2003
PUBLICATIONS and SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Contributing Legal Writer, Big Island Chronicle —2014 to 2015
"Disaster Recovery and Relief"— February 2015 issue
"Tenant Law in Hawaii"— March 2014 issue
* Additional articles no longer available in print
Speaker/Presenter, "Mindfulness In Mediation:A Guide For Mediators To Cultivate More Awareness,
Creativity, Openness And Ease In The Mediation Room", Mediator Open Forum, Kuikahi Mediation
Center— December 7, 2024.
SIGNIFICANT TRAININGS
"Advanced Mediator Skills and Professional Development Symposium", one-day online training
offered by the Mediation Center of the Pacific and the Center for Alternative Dispute
Resolution, Appellate Mediation Program,June 2024
"Mediating the Litigated Case",42-hour online training offered by Straus Institute for Dispute
Resolution, Caruso School of Law, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California—March 2021
"Domestic Mediation", 16-hour online training offered by Kuikahi Mediation Center and the Honorable
Mimi DesJardins— February 2021
"Brilliant Bystander", "Unconscious Bias"and "Linguistic Reframing", 16-hour online training offered
by Kuikahi Mediation Center and Kimberly Dark—January 2021
PROFESSIONAL LICENSES AND MEMBERSHIPS
Member, Conflict Resolution Alliance, Honolulu, Hawaii—2021 to present
Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Hawaii State Bar Association—2020 to present
Member, Mediate.com—2021 to present
Member, Hawaii State Bar Association—2003 to present
Bar License -admitted to practice before all Hawaii State Courts and the United States District Court for
the District of Hawaii—2003 to present
SKILLS
Zoom platform for mediation, meetings, workshops and conferences
Basic working knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)
Non-Violent Communication (NVC)