Newsmaker
Monday, September 14, 1998
Name: Paul Achitoff
Age: 42
Position: Attorney, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund
Education: Harvard, Columbia University
Hobbies: Diving, playing guitar
When he first set foot on Hawaii in 1989, Paul Achitoff felt a vibrance he never experienced before. Protector of environment
"The first place I went to after arriving here was to the Big Island, Volcano National Park," said Achitoff. "I remember very clearly being there, feeling a sense that this was a new land. The energy was very special. I've always remembered that."
That "special" energy is nothing new to the Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund attorney, who said he has always enjoyed being in the outdoors.
"It is important for people to have a place to go where you can communicate with nature," Achitoff said. "As a child, I grew up in New York City - it has its benefits but lacks a natural environment."
Achitoff has been representing proponents of the natural environment for four years as a defense fund attorney.
He believes the environment affects all people, that "not enough is being done to protect the environment for everyone."
Those who have worked with the attorney call him an important asset to the environment as well as the organizations he represents - and not just an asset, but an advocate.
Said Donna Wong, executive director of "Hawaii's Thousand Friend," a nonprofit land use organization: "He's a strong advocate for the environment. Besides bringing lawsuits as an attorney, he attends hearings and speaks on legislation."
Achitoff has worked on a variety of cases, such as the Waiahole Ditch issue now being appealed to the Hawaii Supreme Court, and the controversy surrounding waste water from Hamakua ditch in Waipio.
Through his work, he wants to accomplish two things - protecting Hawaii's "unique" resources for the sake of future generations, and helping people better understand the critical importance of protecting the environment.
"I feel a special obligation to protect what's left of Hawaii xxx for native Hawaiians. This is their land," Achitoff said. "I want to empower people so that everybody is working toward the same goal."
David Kimo Frankel, executive director of the Hawaii chapter of the Sierra Club, said Achitoff's "approach and principled positions" have allowed Earthjustice to forcefully and successfully argue environmental cases.
"He's quiet, knowledgeable, astute and very public oriented," Wong added. "He's very easy to work with. We're very lucky."
By Stan Constantino, Star-Bulletin
