20 for the Next 20: Puananionaona Thoene, Carlsmith Ball

Fluent in environmental law and ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, this law firm partner works to bring development in balance with the environment.
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Photo: Aaron Yoshino

Puananionaona Thoene
Partner, Carlsmith Ball 

For most of her career, Puananionaona Thoene has bridged her love of Hawaiian culture and the environment with her love of the law.

At Carlsmith Ball, she has worked with a team that prepares clients to navigate myriad environmental laws and processes. The aim, she says, is to influence development so it’s in better balance with the environment.

Thoene found her way to the profession after business school, which had already sparked her interest in contract law in particular.

“Then we started learning about the Walmarts and Costcos of the world, and how these big development companies would go into these rural or Native communities and just decimate the environment,” she says. “I started to think I want to work for the bigger companies, to maybe whisper in their ears and help them make better choices.”

She got her degree in business administration from the University of San Diego in 2007 with the aim of going into restaurant management, but found the field wasn’t for her. Going back to school seemed a good option in a recession, and she headed to UH’s Richardson School of Law.

The seeds for that career change, as well as her Hawaiian ethic, were planted in childhood: Her father is an attorney, still practicing family law. Her mother died when she was young, but not before imparting knowledge of hula and the Hawaiian language as a native speaker.

Thoene entered immersion school on O‘ahu and continued after the family moved to Hilo; after seventh grade, she boarded at Kamehameha Schools’ Kapālama campus.

At Carlsmith, Thoene also has helped to recruit and mentor young lawyers and served as an advocate for environmental concerns within the company, including spearheading an effort to reduce its carbon footprint. Her volunteerism includes an appointment by then-Gov. David Ige to what is now called the State Environmental Advisory Council.

“Onaona is already a leader in the firm and in the community,” says partner Katherine Garson of Carlsmith’s Hilo office. “She impresses with both her attention to detail and her grasp of the big picture. Clients appreciate this combination of skills.”

“The firm is grateful to have her on our team and appreciates her intelligence, humility and willingness to take on challenges.”

 

 

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