HWL History
Founded in 1976 and incorporated in 1982, HWL has been at the forefront of significant legal issues affecting women attorneys, women, children and families.
HWL History
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 |
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.
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.