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2022 Annual Awards

Outstanding Women Lawyer Award
Rep. Sylvia Luke

Judicial Achievement Award
Honorable Dayna Dias Beamer (ret.)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Avi Soifer

Distinguished Service
Jenny Silbiger

President's Award
Lynn Costales


2022 Awardee Bios

​Outstanding Women Lawyer Award

Rep. Sylvia Luke


Sylvia Luke was born in South Korea. Like many of Hawai’iʻs immigrants, her parents sought
better opportunities for their young family and moved to Honolulu in 1977. Enrolled as a fifth
grader at Kaʻahumanu Elementary, Sylvia could not speak English. She found an unexpected
hero in her homeroom teacher, who refused to send Sylvia to ESL class, insisting, instead, on
tutoring her everyday after school.
 
Her early experiences shaped Sylvia as a policy-maker. Sylvia has identified with the needs of
immigrant populations and consistently championed educational access and teacher retention.
While attending Roosevelt High School, Sylvia’s father passed away. Now widowed, Sylvia’s
mother struggled financially, yet instilled in her children that those less fortunate need
assistance. Her mother's influence and service to others would inspire Sylvia to become a civic
leader.
 
Sylvia’s first foray to public service came at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, when she
successfully ran for President of the Associated Students of University of Hawaiʻi, becoming the
first female president in almost a decade. After graduating from UH Mānoa, she attended San
Francisco School of Law where she received her J.D.
 
In 1998, Sylvia ran for the State House of Representatives and has continued to serve her
district to the present. During her tenure, she served as the Vice Speaker, Chair of the Judiciary
Committee, and most recently Chair of the Finance Committee. She has championed and
supported a number of significant legislative initiatives, including preschool expansion, increase in affordable housing, healthcare access, marriage equality, and criminal justice reform among others.



Judicial Achievement Award

Honorable Dayna Dias Beamer (ret.)


In 1997, a new Immigration Court was opened in Honolulu to cover Hawaiʻi, Guam, and later the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands. Judge Beamer was appointed as its first Immigration Judge by then U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. Judge Beamer served alone in that position in Honolulu for 13 years, often traveling to Guam, or other States as a visiting judge to help with huge caseloads. The cases involved arriving refugees from all over the world, intending immigrants, and residents convicted of criminal offenses resulting in removal proceedings. Judge Beamer presided at the Honolulu Court for a total of 23 years until her retirement in 2021, for a total of 33 years of service in the U.S. Department of Justice.

​Born in Hawai
ʻi, Judge Beamer is graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi Richardson School of Law, class of 1980, she has a B.A. from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa, and is a graduate of Castle High School in Kaneohe. Prior to being selected as Hawaiʻi’s first Immigration Judge, she was a government attorney for the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, and a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Hawaiʻi.


​Lifetime Achievement Award

Avi Soifer

​

Avi Soifer served as Dean of the Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai’i from 2003 until 2020, leaving an indelible, positive legacy on Hawai’i and on legal education far beyond our community. Although he stepped down from the deanship in 2020, Avi continues to teach and write at the Law School.
 
Avi has been a champion of women’s rights and a staunch advocate for gender equality for many decades. Even before his legal career, for example, Avi led efforts to genuinely co-educate Yale College and he  spearheaded Coed Week in November, 1968, when over 1000 undergraduate women from more than 20 different colleges lived in Yale College dorms, attended classes, and discussed varied forms of coeducation. This grassroots effort played a key role in Yale’s decision to admit women the following fall.
 
After he received both a J.D. and a master’s degree in urban studies from Yale in 1972, Avi clerked for then-Federal District Court Judge Jon O. Newman and began his law teaching career at the University of Connecticut. He quickly became known nationally for his scholarship and his activism on behalf of civil rights and women’s rights, including his extensive work criticizing stereotypes and identifying unfulfilled legal promises. After receiving a Law and Humanities Fellowship at Harvard, he taught at Boston University School of Law and Boston College Law School, where he served as dean from 1993-1998.
 
Building on C.J. Richardson’s founding vision, at Richardson, Avi emphasized the Law School’s abiding commitment to social justice and diversity and its vital role within the community and far beyond our shores. Avi also has served on many national and local boards, and he has been a Commissioner on the Hawai’i Access to Justice Commission since its inception. Each year, he chairs the committee that organizes the annual conference that brings together local attorneys and national public service leaders. Avi has received numerous awards for his public service work: recently, for example, the Pro Bono & Public Section of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) gave Avi its annual Deborah L. Rhode Award.
 
Among highlights during his Richardson deanship, Avi lists hosting Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor in the Law School’s Jurist-in-Residence Program. During these visits, each Justice talked at a local public high school as well as met informally with members of the Hawaii Women Lawyers. 
 
Avi explains that he grew up with, and learned early to collaborate with, outstanding strong women. He is married to award-winning documentary filmmaker Marlene Booth, and they delight in spending time with their two children, Raphael and Amira, and are greatly enjoying their new roles as grandparents.


​
Distinguished Service Award

Jenny Silbiger


Jenny Silbiger is the State Law Librarian and Access to Justice Coordinator for the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary. She serves as one of the Judiciary's liaisons to the Hawaiʻi Access to Justice Commission and also serves as co-chair of the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association's Committee on Delivery of Legal Services to the Public (DLSP). She is currently serving as President of the Hawaiʻi Library Association (HLA), and she is also a member of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), recently serving as Chair of the Government Law Libraries-Special Interest Section. As a member of the Self Represented Litigation Network (SRLN) - Law Librarians Working group, she is contributing to an analysis of law librarian participation with Access to Justice Commissions across the country.
 
She has presented to national and regional audiences on the topics of library partnerships promoting access to justice, legal information and resources for libraries and the public, as well as has facilitated and will contribute to upcoming discussions on systemic racism, diversity, and inclusion with library and law library professional colleagues in Hawaiʻi and on the US continent.  Her writing has appeared online and in print sources such as Notes Between Us, the Hawaiʻi Bar Journal and the Hawaiʻi Review.  Her edited book, Century of the Tiger: 100 Years of Korean Culture in America, was published by the University of Hawaiʻi Press in 2003 and received the Hawaiʻi Book Publishers Association's Ka Palapala Poʻokela Award for Excellence in Literature in 2004.



​
President's Award
​

Lynn Costales


Lynn has been a passionate advocate for victims of sexual abuse for the majority of her career. She previously served as head of the sex assault unit and then as Acting First Deputy at the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Currently, she serves as assistant director of the Sex Abuse Treatment Center, a program of Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children, serving victims of sexual assault throughout the island of Oʻahu.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai
ʻi, Lynn is a proud graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law. Following graduation, she had the honor of clerking with the Honorable Marie N. Milks (ret.) and the Honorable Simeon Acoba (ret.), both then in the First Circuit Court, State of Hawaiʻi. That exposure to the criminal justice system led Lynn to begin her litigation career at the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney's Office where she became an expert in sex assault and sex trafficking cases, and which sparked a lifelong dedication to helping those harmed by sexual violence.

For Lynn, helping victims of sexual violence is the ultimate privilege. The work is rewarding and humbling.  She holds a special affinity towards each victim, who empower her every day by their resilience, strength and courage in dealing with their complex and multifaceted traumas. She is honored every day to walk alongside these survivors on their journey towards healing and to bear witness to their strength. Taking a holistic approach, Lynn has leveraged her experiences to bring awareness to the plight of victims of sexual violence by appearing on PBS Insights regarding sex trafficking, morning news shows, and serving as a presenter at victim-centered conferences and other community groups. In addition to her work combatting sexual violence, Lynn also worked in private practice during the formative years of her career, at a small insurance defense firm with J. Patrick Gallagher and Harvey Henderson, where she eventually became a partner. They taught, guided, and nurtured her for nearly 13 years, before Lynn returned to the Prosecutor’s Office to continue her work on behalf of victims of sexual violence.

Lynn’s family is also a central inspiration to her. As the fifth of seven children, in a family with a Hawaiian mother and a Filipino father who was born in a small plantation community in Pa
ʻia, Maui, Lynn comes from, and is influenced, by humble beginnings. Lynn has been married for over 18 years to a supportive man who hails from Fresno, California, and together they have a wonderful young daughter.  Lynn makes it a priority to, and finds joy in, involving herself in her daughter’s activities, simultaneously getting to spend extra time with her daughter and giving back to the community through serving as class mom for her daughter’s hula halau, a judge for the school’s speech and debate team, a board member for her condominium association, and participating in career fairs to inspire students to develop careers in public service. 




​Previous Awardees


​Outstanding Women Lawyer Award
2020/2021 - Susan L. Arnett
2019/2020 - Senator Laura H. Thielen

2018 - Rebecca Copeland
2017 - Jennifer Solidum Rose
2016 - Joanne Grimes
2015 - Representative Linda Ichiyama
2014 - Janet Kelly
2013 - Representative Della Au Bellati
2012 - Senator Maile Shimabukuro
2011 - Shannon Wack & Jo Kim
2010 - Kathryn Matayoshi
2009 - Florence Nakakuni
2008 - Hazel Beh
2007 - Senator Colleen Hanabusa
2006 - Colleen Wong
2005 - Thalia Murphy
2004 - Lea Hong
2003 - Mari Matsuda
2002 - Congresswoman Patsy Mink
2001 - General Coral Wong Pietsch
2000 - Donna Tanoue
1999 - Susan Ichinose
1998 - Margery Bronster
1997 - Beadie Kanahele Dawson
1996 - Yuklin Aluli
1995 - Stephanie Rezents
1994 - Pamela Ferguson-Brey
1993 - Mervina Cash-Kaeo
1992 - Esther Kwon Arinaga
1991 - Ellen Godbey Carson
1990 - Lorraine Akiba
1989 - Joyce Neely & Leslie Hayashi
1987 - Elizabeth Fujiwara
1986 - Susan Oki Mollway
1985 - Sherry Broder
1984 - Angie King
1983 - Shelby Anne Floyd
1982 - Carol Mon Lee
1981 - Meredith Lennel
   
Distinguished Service Award
2020/2021 - Nalani Fujimori Kaina
2019/2020 - Tracey S. Wiltgen

2018 - Karen Char
2017 - Avis Aokele Kalama
2016 - Zale Okazaki
2015 - Dr. Jill Omori
2014 - Honorable Karen Radius (Ret.)
​2013 - Representative Sylvia Luke
2012 - Senator Mazie Hirono
2011 - Elizabeth Kent
2010 - Amy Agbayani
2009 - Adriana Ramelli
2008 - Rob Perez
2007 - Chris Chun
2006 - Carol Mon Lee
2005 - Laurie Tochiki
2004 - Nanci Kriedman
2003 - Lorraine Robinson
2002 - Denise Antolini
2001 - Allicyn Hikida Tasaka & Annelle Amaral
2000 - Ellen Godbey Carson
1999 - Diane Yukihiro Chang
1998 - Jacqueline Young
1997 - Dorothy "Dolly" Ching
1996 - Judy Weightman
1995 - Reverend Pamela Vessels & Anne Clarkin
1994 - Judy Sobin & Windward Spouse Abuse Coalition
1993 - Honorable Marie Milks
1992 - Rep. Annelle Amaral & Sara Lyn Smith
1991 - Chief Justice Herman T.F. Lum
1990 - Honorable Helen Gillmor
1989 - Senator Mary George
1987 - Naomi Campbell
1986 - Congresswoman Patsy Mink
1985 - C. Frederick Schutte
1984 - Honorable Betty Vitousek
1982 - Harriet Bouslog
1981 - Rhoda Lewis

Lifetime Achievement Award
2020/2021 - Professor Carole J. Petersen
2019/2020 - Honorable Barbara P. Richardson (ret.)

2018 - Esther Arinaga
2017 - Vanessa Chong
2016 - Honorable Richard Clifton
2015 - Marya Grambs
2014 - Robert A. Chong
2013 - Director Loretta Fuddy
2012 - Marilyn Lee
2011 - Professor Jon Markham Van Dyke
​2010 - Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon
2009 - Mahealani Perez Wendt
2008 - Sonia Faust
2007 - Honorable Marcia Waldorf
2006 - Shimeji Ryusaki Kanazawa
2005 - Melody MacKenzie
2004 - Lois Yasui
2003 - Alana W. Lau
2002 - Shelby Anne Floyd
2001 - Beadie Kanahele Dawson
2000 - Bernice Littman
1999 - Ah Quon McElrath
1998 - Chief Justice William S. Richardson
1997 - Honorable Evelyn Lance
1996 - Congresswoman Patsy Mink
1995 - Honorable Betty Vitousek
1994 - Naomi Campbell
​
President's Award
2020/2021 - The Domestic Violence Action Center & Nanci Kriedman
2019/2020 - Rachael Wong

2018 - Dr. Jackie Young
2017 - Senator Rosalyn Baker
2016 - Ellen Godbey Carson
​2015 - Honorable Daniel R. Foley
2014 - Women of Waianae
2013 - HI State Commission on the Status of Women
2012 - Ete Bowl Founders & Participants
2011 - Susan Ichinose
2010 - Kimberlee Bassford
2009 - Elisabeth Chun
2008 - Melissa Pavlicek
2007 - Louise K. Y. Ing
2006 - Congresswoman Mazie Hirono
2005 - Representative Barbara Marumoto
2004 - Dr. Laura Weldon Hoque
2003 - Karen Char & June R. Lee
2002 - Lynn Maunakea
2001 - Patricia McManaman
2000 - Rai Saint Chu & Emme Tomimbang
1999 - M. Casey Jarman
1998 - Sister Michelle McQueeny
1997 - Gladys Kamakuokalani Alona Brandt
1996 - Honorable Marie Milks
1995 - Madelyn Perry & Reverend Pamela Boyd
1994 - Cynthia Thielen
1993 - Trudy Burns Stone
1992 - Sharon Burnham Takeuchi
1991 - Susan Arinaga Li
1990 - Michelle Tucker
​1989 - Susan Jaworowski

Outstanding Judicial Achievement Award
2020/2021 - Honorable Darien W.L. Ching Nagata
2019/2020 - Honorable Alexa D.M. Fujise

2018 - Honorable Helen Gillmor
2017 - Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald
2016 - Honorable Trudy Senda
​2015 - Honorable Linda K.C. Luke
2014 - Honorable Jennifer Ching
2013 - Honorable Christine Kuriyama
2012 - Honorable Leslie Hayashi
2011 - Honorable Faye Koyanagi
2010 - Honorable Leslie Kobayashi
2009 - Honorable Corinne Watanabe
2008 - Honorable R. Mark Browning
2007 - Honorable Karen Radius
2006 - Honorable Sabrina S. McKenna
2005 - Honorable Colleen Hirai
2004 - Honorable Susan Oki Mollway
2003 - Honorable Marie Milks
2002 - Justice Paula Nakayama
2001 - Honorable Frances Wong ​
Hawaii Women Lawyers
P.O. Box 2072
Honolulu, Hawaii 96805

hawaiiwomenlawyers@gmail.com
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