FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT
Nanea Lo, Communications Manager
Phone: (808) 766-5425 Email: [email protected]
ACLU of Hawaiʻi Welcomes Sarah Bernado as Policy Fellow
HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi — The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaiʻi (“ACLU-HI”) is pleased to welcome Sarah Bernardo as its new Policy Fellow where she works to protect civil rights and civil liberties through policy development and legislative advocacy. Sarah is a lawyer with a deep commitment to social justice and human rights. Prior to joining the ACLU of Hawai‘i, she was a Research Scholar at the Institute for Law & AI where she provided legal research and policy advice on governing frontier artificial intelligence.
She has also conducted research for the European Court of Human Rights and the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights. Sarah began her career as a corporate attorney at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in New York, focusing on private equity mergers and acquisitions. Her work on immigration and nonprofit corporate governance matters earned her a Pro Bono Achiever award. Raised in Sugar Land, Texas, Sarah received her J.D. from Yale Law School and holds a B.A. in English and Legal Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. In her free time, Sarah loves to watch movies, explore museums, and try new recipes.
—We are thrilled to welcome Sarah Bernardo to our Policy team, and we are so lucky she chose ACLU-HI as her new work home,
said the Executive Director, Salmah Y. Rizvi of the ACLU of Hawaiʻi
Her willingness to intentionally pivot from corporate law into a career of public service speaks volumes to her dedication. She will be an invaluable asset as we continue to unwrap the unique civil liberties challenges facing Hawaii's communities.
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The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i strives to build an equitable society. Our mission is to protect and promote the civil liberties and fundamental rights enshrined in the United States and Hawai‘i constitutions through litigation, legislation, and public education. We serve – and center the voices of – our impacted and vulnerable communities, regardless of background, status, or circumstance. As a non-partisan non-profit organization, we provide our services at no cost to the public, and we never accept government funds.