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2020 Annual Awards

Outstanding Women Lawyer Award
Laura H. Thielen

Judicial Achievement Award
Honorable Alexa D.M. Fujise

Lifetime Achievement Award
Honorable Barbara P. Richardson (Ret.)

Distinguished Service
Tracey S. Wiltgen

President's Award
Rachael Wong


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​2020 Awardee Bios

​Outstanding Women Lawyer Award
Laura H. Thielen

Senator Laura Thielen represents the 25th senate district of Kailua, Waimanalo, and Hawaii Kai. She grew up in Kailua and holds degrees in public policy and law. She started her career working as an attorney in private practice, later becoming a managing attorney at Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. In 2001 she was elected to the State Board of Education, serving several years. She was later appointed as the Director of the State Office of Planning, and then the Chairperson of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. She was first elected to the State Senate in 2012. Senator Thielen has always been a strong voice for equality for women and girls in the Hawaii State Legislature and in the community. She was the president of the Hawaii Women Lawyers and is currently a co-convener of the Women’s Legislative Caucus. Senator Thielen has put forward legislation that has improved anti-harassment policies in the workplace. She has also worked at making sure that we are effectively addressing violence against women by reducing the backlog of rape test kits, improving the domestic violence judicial process as well as mentoring women. Senator Thielen has championed equal pay and is a great supporter of gender equality, this session she has introduced a resolution requesting appointing authorities to dedicate themselves to achieve gender parity on state boards and commissions and our circuit courts.


Judicial Achievement Award
Honorable Alexa D.M. Fujise

Alexa D.M. Fujise was sworn in as an Associate Judge of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals (the “ICA”) on June 10, 2004.  At that time, she was just the second female to serve on the ICA, the first being Judge Corrine Watanabe. Throughout her 15 plus years on the the ICA, Judge Fujise served as lead judge and/or a panel member on thousands of appeals, working diligently to provide access to justice and resolution to litigants before the ICA.  

While serving as Associate Judge, Judge Fujise served on the Hawaii Rules of Appellate Procedure Standing Committee, a position she held even prior to her appointment to the bench. She was also appointed to the Appellate Review Task Force (a legislatively created task force tasked with looking at the transition and operation of the ICA vis-à-vis the Supreme Court as a Court primarily of certiorari), the Committee on Children in the Courts (an interdisciplinary committee addressing issues facing foster children in the jurisdiction of the Courts), and the Judiciary Committee on Revisions to the Code of Judicial Ethics.  Judge Fujise also served unofficially as part of the user group advising the Judiciary’s contractor developing the Appellate Module of the Judiciary’s Electronic Filing System.

Prior to her appointment on the ICA, Judge Fujise worked at the Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for 20 years, from 1984 to 2004. She was a strong leader within the Prosecutor’s Office, at a time when many female attorneys were still facing challenges breaking into the profession. During her tenure with the Prosecutor’s Office, Judge Fujise served as Branch Chief of the Appellate Section within the Prosecutor’s Office as well as the Division Director of the Research and Reference Support Division within the Office.

In addition to her work with the Judiciary and the Prosecutor’s Office, Judge Fujise also has a long history of involvement with the wider legal community. Judge Fujise serves as a member of the Hawaii Board of Bar Examiners and is long time dedicated board member of the William S. Richardson School of Law (“WSRSL”) Alumni Association. Judge Fujise has also served on the American Judicature Society’s Ad Hoc Standing Committee on Electronic Discovery and previously taught appellate practice seminars for the National District Attorneys Association and WSRSL. In 2005, WSRSL honored Judge Fujise with its Dean’s Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition for all that she has accomplished and done for her alma mater

Judge Fujise is a proud graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law Class of 1980 and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  During her free time, Judge Fujise enjoys crafting, including quilting, knitting, weaving and jewelry making. She belongs to several crafting groups, including a quilting group composed of female attorneys. Judge Fujise is a huge baseball fan, and regular supporter of the UH Baseball Bows and her Boston Red Sox.



​Lifetime Achievement Award
Honorable Barbara P. Richardson (Ret.)

Barbara P. Richardson was sworn in as a District Court Judge in the First Circuit on May 5, 2000, and continued to serve on the bench until her retirement at the end of December 2016. During her tenure on the bench, Judge Richardson was appointed as Deputy Chief Judge of the District Court of the First Circuit, a position she held for seven years until her retirement. As Deputy Chief Judge, Judge Richardson was responsible for overseeing all of the district court judges within the First Circuit and ensuring the smooth administration of the district courts. In addition to her sixteen years of full-time service on the bench, Judge Richardson also served as a per diem judge for fourteen years, immediately preceding her appointment.

During her tenure as Deputy Chief Judge, Judge Richardson was a member of and chaired several Judiciary committees, participated in creating a Community Outreach Court, and worked with the District Court Deputy Chief Judges and staff from the other circuits in establishing the District Court Environmental Courts and launching criminal modules of the Judiciary Information Management System (JIMS).
While sitting on the bench, Judge Richardson collaborated with the Hawaii State Bar Association, Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, and the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii to have volunteer attorneys and AmeriCorps representatives available two days a week at an “Access to Justice Room” located in the Honolulu District Court courthouse.  Judge Richardson also helped implement the Hawaii Court Records Rules and the JIMS District Court Criminal project where misdemeanor cases documents are filed and accessed electronically.

Judge Richardson was elected by her peers as President of the Hawaii State Trial Judge’s Association, the association representing all of the judges in the State of Hawaii.

In 2012, Judge Richardson was named Jurist of the Year by the Hawaii State Judiciary, an honor that recognizes a judge who displays exceptional judicial competence evidenced by decisional quality, significant extra-judicial contributions to the administration of justice, and active participation in public service to the community at large. In presenting Judge Richardson with the Jurist of the Year recognition, Chief Judge Recktenwald commented, “Judge Richardson is a strong leader with a collaborative and inclusive style…she is a gracious and supportive colleague, who was recognized by her peers when she was elected President of the Hawaii State Trial Judges Association, and her leadership and vision continue to inspire Hawaii’s legal community.”

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Richardson worked in private practice in Honolulu and San Francisco, as well as a Deputy Corporation Counsel for the County of Hawaii.

After her retirement, Judge Richardson continued to assist the Judiciary in the development of its JIMS civil module. She is a current board member of the Friends of the William S. Richardson School of Law, the American Judicature Society, Friends of the Lyon Arboretum, and the law Enforcement Officer Independent Review Board.
Judge Richardson received her J.D. from Hastings College of the Law and her B.A. from Stanford University.



​
Distinguished Service Award
Tracey S. Wiltgen

Tracey S. Wiltgen is the Executive Director of The Mediation Center of the Pacific, Inc. (“MCP”), a nonprofit dispute resolution corporation that serves over 7,000 people annually through direct mediation, facilitation, and training in conflict prevention and resolution processes. Ms. Wiltgen consults with businesses and other agencies such as the Hawaii State Judiciary, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, the Department of Education, and the U.S. Military, to design and develop in-house mediation and dispute resolution programs. One such initiative that Ms. Wiltgen helped develop is the Kupuna Pono Program, which assists families in reaching agreements on elder issues.

As part of its ongoing efforts to improve access to justice in Hawaii, the Hawaii State Judiciary partnered with MCP in an innovative program to help expand the availability of mediation services in the islands known as “Adopt-A-Court”. The MCP's Adopt-A-Court Program provides opportunities for local businesses to "adopt" a district court and have members of their management team trained to serve as volunteer mediators for small claims and summary possession cases. The Adopt-A-Court Program has served to expand the pool of mediators in the district courts throughout Oahu.
In 2019, Ms. Wiltgen spearheaded efforts for MCP to further expand its services and increase accessibility, including providing online dispute resolution services.

In addition to her extensive work contributions, Ms. Wiltgen has been very active in access to justice efforts across the state. She has served as a past Commissioner on the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, Co-Chair of the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission’s Pro Bono Initiatives Task Force, and as a member of the Commission’s Administrative Committee, since the Commission’s inception.

Ms. Wiltgen is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Hawaii’s William S. Richardson School of Law where she teaches mediation and dispute resolution and assist with the Conflict Management Institute. She has also taught courses at the Matsunaga Peace Institute and Program on Conflict Resolution and Hawaii Pacific University, and has served as a guest lecturer for Chaminade University.

Ms. Wiltgen has served as Advisory Director to The Rose Perenin Foundation (2010-2017), as a Mediator with the Transportation Security Association (2004-present), is a Member of the Aloha United Way Community Impact Council, a past Director for the Hawaii Association for Conflict Resolution (2001-2005; 1996-1998), a past Co-Chair for the Hawaii State Bar Association’s ADR Section, a Founding Member and Past Chair of the Rotary Club of Honolulu’s Peacemaker Committee, and a past Director of the Rotary Club of Honolulu.  Ms. Wiltgen is also a former Member of the Special Advisory Panel overseeing the implementation of Hawaii 2015: State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Related Dementias, Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias Hawaii Task Force.

Ms. Wiltgen has received numerous honors for her service and dedication to improve the lives of others, including: the Citizen of the Year Award (1999) from the U.S. Navy Pacific Region for her work with the Navy and other federal agencies in developing an in-house dispute resolution program; the Mahalo Award (2004) from the Hawaii Speech/Hearing/Language Association for assisting families and children by providing training, facilitation, and other dispute resolution processes; Soroptimist International Making a Difference Award (2009) for her outstanding work to improve the lives of other women; and the Hawaii State Bar Association’s Schutte Award (2010) for service towards the profession. She was also recognized with the Hawaii Women’s Legal Foundation Rhoda Lewis Award in 2003.

Ms. Wiltgen received a B.S., cum laude, from Gonzaga University, an M.S. from the University of Hawaii, and a J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law.


​
President's Award
Rachael Wong

Rachael Wong is the founder of One Shared Future (OSF), which imagines a positive future for Hawai‘i and brings people together to collectively create that future. OSF offers community-building professional development programs that strengthen the public, private, and non-profit sectors’ capacity to partner and innovate. She is also the co-founder of the Safe Spaces & Workplaces Initiative (SSWP), an OSF-Child & Family Service partnership to end workplace sexual harassment in Hawai‘i through collaboration.

Rachael is born and raised in Hawai‘i and has dedicated her career to improving quality of life for others: as director of the State of Hawai‘i Department of Human Services, where she led the creation of the state’s ʻOhana Nui multigenerational framework; in nonprofit leadership roles at the Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i, Kōkua Mau, and the Hawaiʻi Consortium for Integrative Care; and now through OSF and SSWP. She earned a bachelor’s degree in East Asian studies and certificate in women’s studies from Princeton University, a master’s degree in public health from UH-Mānoa, and a Doctorate in Public Health from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.




​Previous Awardees


​Outstanding Women Lawyer Award
2019 - 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
2019 - 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

2019 - Honorable Barbara Richardson
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
2019 - 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
2019 - Honorable Alexa 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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