HAWAII WOMEN LAWYERS
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​HWL History
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​Founded in 1976 and incorporated in 1982, HWL has been at the forefront of significant legal issues affecting women attorneys, women, children and families.
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Past Presidents

2021/2022: Nicole Altman
2020/2021: Michi Momose
2019/2020: Kimi Ide-Foster
2018/2019: Kristine Yoo/Jacquie Esser
2017/2018: Mihoko Ito
2016/2017: H. Shan Wirt
2015/2016: Natalie Younoszai
2014/2015: Tricia M. Nakamatsu
2013/2014: Shellie K. Park-Hoapili
2012: M. Nalani Fujimori-Kaina
2011: Patsy Saiki
2010: Ruth Oh
2009: Joanne L. Grimes
2008: Emi Kaimuloa
2007: Lauren Sharkey
2006: Lynne McGivern
2005: Stacey Djou
2004: Lane Hornfeck
2003: Joy Miyasaki
2002: April Wilson-South


2001: Melissa Pavlicek
2000: Nancye Bethurem/Melissa Pavlicek
​1999: Nancye Bethurem
1998: Rosemary McShane
1997: Susan Ichinose
1996: Magali Sunderland
1995: Pamela Byrne
1994: Laura Thielen
1993: Corianne Lau
1992: Trudy Burns
1991: Linnel Nishioka
1990: Ellen Godbey Carson
1989: Ellen Godbey Carson
1987: Laurie Furuya
1986: Leslie A. Hayashi
1985: Joyce Neeley
1984: Virginia Crandall
1983: Dona Hanaike
1982: Nancy Stivers/Marguerite Simson
1981: Sherry Broder
​1980: Carol Mon Lee
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Milestones for Women Lawyers in Hawaii
1888: Almeda Hitchcock, first woman admitted to practice law; only woman admitted in the 19th century
1900: Elizabeth Helena Ryan, first woman to sign the “Roll of Attorneys” for the federal district court
1916: Marguerite Ashford, first woman admitted to practice law in the Territory of Hawaii
1925: Carrick Hume Buck, first woman assistant U.S. District Attorney for the Territory of Hawaii
1934: Carrick Hume Buck, first woman appointed to a judgeship in Hawaii
1942: Sau Ung Loo Chan, first Asian woman admitted to the Bar
1944: Jean Vaughan Gilbert, first woman City and County attorney for Honolulu
1955: Patsy Mink, first Japanese-American woman elected to the territorial legislature
1959: Rhoda Lewis, first woman appointed to the Hawaii Supreme Court
1960: Betty Vitousek, first woman appointed executive director of the Hawaii State Bar Association
1965: Patsy Mink, first female minority in Congress; first Asian American woman elected to Congress
1970: Betty Vitousek first woman appointed as a Family Court judge
1972: Patsy Mink, the first Asian American woman to seek the US Presidential nomination
1976: Hawaii Women Lawyers established by Rai Saint Chu
1982: The Hawaii Women’s Lawyer Foundation established (later became The Hawaii Women’s Legal Foundation)
1980: Marie Nakanishi Milks, first woman appointed to District Court; also first Asian.
1983: Patsy Mink, first woman attorney chair of the City Council
1984: Marie Milks, first woman appointed as a Circuit Court judge
Mid 1980s: Patricia Devlin, first woman managing partner of a large law firm (Carlsmith Ball, LLP)
1986: Corinne Watanabe, Hawaii’s first woman Attorney General
1992: Corinne Watanabe, first woman on the Intermediate Court of Appeals
1993: Paula Nakayama, second woman appointed to the Hawaii Supreme Court
1994: Helen Gillmor, first woman appointed to Hawaii District Court federal bench
1996: Faye Kurren, CEO of Tesoro, 1st woman attorney CEO
1998: Susan Mollway, first Japanese-American appointed to the Federal District Court nationwide
2002: Marcia Waldorf, first woman judge from Hawaii to receive the ABA’s Franklin Flaschner Award
2003: Rosemary Fazio, first woman on the Judicial Selection Commission
2006: Colleen Hanabusa, first woman attorney elected President of the Hawaii Senate
2007: Rosemary Fazio, first woman attorney chair of the Judicial Selection Commission
2009: Florence Nakakuni, first woman appointed as United States District Attorney in Hawaii
2011: Sabrina McKenna, third woman appointed to the Hawaii Supreme Court
2012: Mazie Hirono, first Asian American woman in the U.S. Senate

***If any information on this list appears incorrect, please contact us at hawaiiwomenlawyers@gmail.com.

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Hawaii Women Lawyers
P.O. Box 2072
Honolulu, Hawaii 96805

hawaiiwomenlawyers@gmail.com
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • History
  • Events & Highlights
    • Newsletters
  • Annual Awards
  • Join HWL
  • Contact