Miriah Holden is a Hawaii Fellow and a Council member of the ABA Young Lawyers Division. She is currently Associate Counsel at American Savings Bank in Honolulu, HI. Ms. Holden joined the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation in January 2016.
What does being a Fellow mean to you?
It is an honor to be an American Bar Foundation Fellow in Hawaii. Membership into the Fellows recognizes my dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and the welfare of my community. I am very proud to be part of this group.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Snohomish, Washington, a small town about 45 minutes north of Seattle. After high school I moved to Honolulu, Hawaii for school. I stayed in Hawaii because I have a lot of family here and consider it home. I can’t think of a better place to live!
Why did you decide to pursue a career in law?
From a young age, my family said I would make a good lawyer some day because I loved arguing! But as I grew older, I developed a passion for helping children in need. This was my driving factor for pursuing a career in law-to help children who have no voice under the law. Although I work in a corporate setting, I dedicate quite a bit of pro bono hours to assisting children in foster care by acting as a guardian ad litem.
If you hadn’t pursued a career in law, what would you have done?
If I didn’t pursue a career in law, I think I would have pursued a career in management or non-profit work that focuses on assisting underprivileged children in my community.
What do you do in your free time?
I enjoy traveling, going to the beach, playing softball and football, hiking, spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy finding crazy socks to add to my wardrobe.
Anything else you’d like to share with us?
If you ever visit Hawaii, in addition to enjoying our wonderful weather, beaches and hiking, take some time to learn about Hawaii’s history by taking a trip to ‘Iolani Palace (the only palace in the United States) and the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center.