Annual Awards

HWL Annual Awards

Hawaii Women Lawyers is pleased to announce our 2024 Annual Awards recipients!

Outstanding Women Lawyer Award
Dean Camille Nelson

Outstanding Judicial Achievement Award
Judge Dyan Medeiros

Lifetime Achievement Award
Constance Lau

Distinguished Service Award
Leina'ala Ley, Joanna Zeigler, Isaac Moriwake & Kylie Wager-Cruz

President's Award
Twinkle Borge

Please join us in honoring the awardees at the
Hawaii Women Lawyers Annual Awards Ceremony and Reception:

Thursday, April 17th
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Eve at Ala Moana (Previously Vintage Cave)
(1450 Ala Moana Blvd., #1299, Honolulu, 96814)

Individual Tickets: $75.00
Government/Non-Profit Tickets: $50.00
*Due to the lounge style of the venue, tickets are open seating*

TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED HERE

One drink ticket per attendee included in ticket price. Heavy pupus and dessert will be served.

Doors to open at 5:00 p.m., with ceremony to begin at 5:30 p.m.

Awardee Bios

Outstanding Women Lawyer Award

Dean Camille Nelson

Dean Camille Nelson brings a wealth of experience to her role. Prior to her appointment as Dean of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2020, she served as Dean of two law schools – American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., and Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. She has also held faculty positions at several other law schools, including Hofstra University, Washington University, and Saint Louis University School of Law, where she was recognized as Professor of the Year and with a university Faculty Excellence Award. Over the last two decades, Dean Nelson has taught Criminal Law, Torts, and Criminal Procedure at Richardson Law as a visiting professor. Before entering academia, Dean Nelson was a litigator in Toronto and clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada.

Dean Nelson’s career has been highlighted by excellent teaching, impactful scholarship, and awards for her service and leadership, including the Paul Robeson Award from Columbia Law School's Black Law Students Association and with a Top Woman in Higher Education Award by Diverse magazine. She was also recently selected as a recipient of the 2025 Deborah L. Rhode Award, presented by the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).

Since her arrival at Richardson, Dean Nelson has initiated several innovative programs. These include the Island Leadership Lab, an immersive leadership experience grounded in a curriculum specifically designed to prepare the next generation of leaders for success; the Business Bootcamp, a program that equips law students with essential financial and business skills; and an Innovator in Residence program to bolster the technological fluency of the law school community. Additionally, Dean Nelson launched the Hawaiʻi Online JD program to expand access to legal education, including across neighboring islands and the larger Pacific Region. She has also been instrumental in enhancing support for student bar passage and increasing scholarships for Richardson Law students.

Outstanding Judicial Achievement Award

Judge Dyan Medeiros

Dyan M. Medeiros has served as the Senior Family Court Judge of the First Circuit and Deputy Chief Judge since September 30, 2024 (She was sworn in as a Circuit Court Judge of the First Circuit on September 27, 2024).

Prior to her appointment to the Circuit Court, Judge Medeiros served as a District Family Court Judge in the First Circuit from July 10, 2015 until September 27, 2024. During that time, Judge Medeiros served in all three divisions of the First Circuit Family Court: Domestic Division, Juvenile Division, and Special Division. She was the lead Judge of the Special Division from July 2019 through October 2020 and the lead Judge of the Domestic Division from January 24, 2022 until January 6, 2025. Judge Medeiros has also presided over the First Circuit’s Girls’ Court since July 2019.

Judge Medeiros received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Hawai‘i in 1993 and her law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law in 1996. Prior to being appointed to the bench, she was a family law attorney for 17 years, first as an associate attorney at Stirling & Kleintop (from May 1998 until September 2008) and then as a partner in Kleintop, Luria & Medeiros (from September 2008 until July 2015).

While in private practice, Judge Medeiros served as the Treasurer and later Chair of the Family Law Section of the Hawai‘i State Bar Association, served on various committees related to family law, served as a Volunteer Settlement Master, and gave numerous presentations in the area of family law. In 2001, she was awarded the Ki’e Ki’e Award from the Hawai‘i State Bar Association for pro bono work. She was also named in The Best Lawyers in America and Honolulu Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Hawai‘i from 2008 through 2015.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Constance Lau

Connie recently retired as President and CEO and a Director of Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) after a 37-year career, the last 20 as CEO of HEI and of American Savings Bank (ASB). During Connie’s tenure, HEI was Hawaii’s largest public company and recognized nationally as a leader in the clean energy transition.

After graduating from UC Law SF (fka Hastings) and Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and working as an associate at a large San Francisco law firm, Connie returned home and started with Hawaiian Electric Company as HECO’s second in-house lawyer. As Assistant Corporate Counsel and later Treasurer, Connie was involved in many endeavors on behalf of the HEI companies including some of the nation’s first power contracts with independent power producers including wind on Oahu and Maui and geothermal on Hawaii Island, acquisitions and dispositions of interisland maritime, insurance and banking companies and Hawaii’s first land use mediation.

Connie became known nationally in the fields of utilities, banking, clean energy, national security and cybersecurity, serving on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council under three U.S. presidents, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council and as a C3E Clean Energy Ambassador. In banking, she was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking in the U.S. by U.S. Banker magazine and served on the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council.

Connie’s also been active in Hawaii, chairing the Hawaii Bankers Association, the UH Foundation, the Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation, Punahou School, Move Oahu Forward and the Military Affairs Council. One of her most significant contributions was as a special purpose, then interim, then regular Trustee of Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate to help restructure the trust following the Broken Trust crisis, and she continues to serve on KS’ investment advisory committee.

Connie is also a director of Matson, Inc. (formerly also Alexander & Baldwin), Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services and its Lloyd’s of London syndicate and most recently Finance Enterprises, Ltd., holding company of Finance Factors, Finance Insurance and Waipono Investment Corp.

Connie credits her father who experienced pre-Civil Rights Act Hawaii and told her if she earned a law degree “you will know your rights and be able to help others secure theirs” and that “you can do anything with a law degree.” That certainly has been true in her career as she encouraged many, and particularly women, to become C-Suite executives, including as CEO.

Connie is married and has three children and three grandchildren.

Distinguished Service Award

Leina'ala Ley

Leinā‘ala Ley is a Native Hawaiian attorney and policy advocate. During her six-year tenure at Earthjustice, Ley was a lead attorney on the youth-led climate case Navahine v. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, which culminated in a landmark settlement to reduce transportation emissions in line with Hawai‘i’s public trust doctrine and the youth plaintiffs’ constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment. Ley is currently the Chief Advocate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs where she continues her public service work in the policy field. Ley was born and raised on Kauaʻi and O‘ahu and has dedicated her legal career to advocating for Hawai‘i’s people and protection of the islands’ natural and cultural resources, particularly Native Hawaiian rights and entitlements. Ley was pregnant with her 19-month-old son when she argued in opposition to the State’s Motion to Dismiss the Navhine case in 2023 and hopes that the political and legal environment will coalesce around climate rights in time to protect his and other young people’s future here in Hawai‘i.

Joanna Zeigler

Joanna earned her JD with a certificate in environmental law from William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi. After law school, she clerked for two years for the Honorable Lisa M. Ginoza at the Intermediate Court of Appeals and then joined Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert, as a litigation associate. Joanna joined Our Children’s Trust as a staff attorney in 2022. Our Children’s Trust represents young people in law suits against their government to secure their legal rights to a safe climate. She primarily works on State Cases filed by Our Children’s Trust, including Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Dept. of Transportation, Layla v. Commonwealth of Virginia, and Sagoonick v. State of Alaska II, and is working to develop new cases in other states. In her spare time, Joanna enjoys getting outside and being active.

Isaac Moriwake

Isaac Moriwake is the Managing Attorney of the Mid-Pacific Office of Earthjustice, a non-profit, public-interest law firm working on environmental and energy cases across the nation, with 37 years of serving the community in Hawai‘i and the greater Pacific]. His legal practice includes litigation and advocacy before state and federal courts and agencies on a range of issues including water, climate and clean energy, and environmental justice. Born and raised in Hawai‘i, he graduated from Pomona College and the William S. Richardson Law School at the University of Hawai‘i. After law school, he clerked for Justice Paula A. Nakayama of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court.

Kylie Wager-Cruz

Kylie has had the privilege of representing community groups in proceedings to promote clean energy and clean water, end the use of fossil fuels, protect Native Hawaiian communities disproportionately burdened by pesticide exposure, safeguard Hawai‘i’s native and threatened wildlife, and restore stream flows.

Prior to joining Earthjustice, Kylie served as a law clerk for the Honorable Mark E. Recktenwald, Chief Justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. She was also a legal fellow at the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources — Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement and legal intern at the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission. During law school, Kylie worked as a summer law clerk for the Earthjustice Mid-Pacific regional office and as an extern for the Honorable Richard R. Clifton, circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She has held several research positions focusing on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate adaptation law and policy.

Kylie is a proud graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law. She enjoys spending time with her family in the ocean and exploring wild places.

President's Award

Twinkle Borge

Twinkle Borge was the founder and leader of Puuhonua O Waianae, a village of 250 people living unhoused on State land adjacent to the Waianae Boat Harbor. She organized POW residents into a powerful community - offering safety, healing, and purpose for people who had lost everything. Residents of POW take care of each other in ways that most neighborhoods only dream of. They also serve others outside of the village, through POW programs like food and hygiene outreach to other houseless encampments, events for Waianae keiki, and community clean ups.

In 2018, Twinkle and others had to defend the village from the threat of State eviction, then spent the next year and a half raising funds to purchase land where the village could relocate to. In 2020, POW completed the purchase of 20 acres in Waianae Valley, and is now working to construct POW Farm Village - the permanent home for all the people and programs of Puuhonua O Waianae.

Twinkle was "Mama" to everyone, always taking care, and living by the mantra, "kuleana wakes up mana." She is loved and missed by many. Today, a council of 6 village leaders, that she appointed before she passed, carries her vision and values forward, and continues the work she started.

Previous Awardees

Outstanding Women Lawyer Award
2024 - Dean Camille Nelson
2023 - Rochelle Vidinha
2022 - Rhonda Griswold
2021 - Rep. Sylvia Luke
2020 - Susan L. Arnett
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
2024 - Leina'ala Ley, Joanna Zeigler, Isaac Moriwake & Kylie Wager-Cruz
2023 - Chief Judge R. Mark Browning (Ret.)
2022 - Dr. Reni Soon
2021 - Jenny Silbiger
2020 - Nalani Fujimori Kaina
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
2024 - Constance Lau
2023 - The Late Pat Mau-Shimizu
2022 - The Late Darolyn Lendio Heim
2021 - Avi Soifer
2020 - Professor Carole J. Petersen
2019 - 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
2024 - Twinkle Borge
2023 - Robin Wurtzel
2022 - Deja Ostrowski & Dina Shek
2021 - Lynn Costales
2020 - The Domestic Violence Action Center & Nanci Kriedman
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
2024 - Judge Dyan Medeiros
2023 - Judge Trish K. Morikawa
2022 - Associate Justice Paula Nakayama
2021 - Honorable Dayna Dias Beamer (ret.)
2020 - Honorable Darien W.L. Ching Nagata
2019 - 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

​Previous Awardees

Previous Awardees