Annual Awards

2024 Annual Awards

Outstanding Women Lawyer Award
Rochelle Vidinha

Outstanding Judicial Achievement Award
Judge Trish K. Morikawa

Lifetime Achievement Award
The Late Patricia Mau-Shimizu

Distinguished Service Award
Chief Judge R. Mark Browning (Ret.)

President's Award
Robin Wurtzel

2024 Awardee Bios

Outstanding Women Lawyer Award

Rochelle Vidinha

Rochelle Vidinha has been a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for 22 years, and is currently the Team Captain of the Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking team at the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. Ms. Vidinha received an Excellence Award for successfully prosecuting a high profile sex assault case. Ms. Vidinha conducts county and statewide trainings on sexual assault investigations and prosecution, and sits on various panels to educate the community on the unique dynamics of sexual assault.

As the current Coordinator of the Honolulu County Human Trafficking Task Force (HCHTTF), Ms. Vidinha collaborates with partners to establish protocols to better ensure a victim-centered response to reports of human trafficking. As the coordinator, she serves on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Steering Committee, Hawaii Sex Assault Response and Training Team, CSEC Multi-Disciplinary Team, Sex Assault Multi-Disciplinary Team, Sex Assault Inter-Agency Advisory Committee, CSEC Inter-Agency Advisory Committee. Ms. Vidinha also convenes Rapid Response meetings with local and federal law enforcement and service providers to address time sensitive issues. Under her leadership, the HCHTTF hosted a 3-day statewide advanced human trafficking training. Furthermore, she indicted and prosecuted the first state Labor Trafficking case. Additionally, she participates in outreach events at schools, community fairs, and military installations to increase human trafficking awareness.

Ms. Vidinha served as a National District Attorney Association Trial Advocacy Course Facilitator and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney Training Facilitator. She is a faculty for the Hawaii State Bar Association Trial Academy, and a mock trial judge for the University of Hawaii Prosecution Clinic.

Outside of work, Ms. Vidinha volunteers for the Department of Education Community Read Aloud Program and was an assistant coach and referee for youth sports. She is also a Special Olympics Hawaii Liaison.

Ms. Vidinha is a graduate of The Kamehameha Schools, Pacific University, and The William S. Richardson School of Law. Prior to law school, she was a parole officer with the Hawaii Paroling Authority for 9 years.

Ms. Vidinha is a proud Bruzer for life, and a 2016 Ete Bowl Hall of Fame Inductee.

Outstanding Judicial Achievement Award

Judge Trish K. Morikawa

I am a proud 1988 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. After high school, I attended the University of Pennsylvania and received a Bacelor of Arts in 1992. I went directly into law school at the William S. Richardson School of Law and graduated in 1995. After passing the bar, I began my legal career at the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. In total, I worked at the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for approximately 13 years and was primarily assigned to the Sexual Assault Unit or the Career Criminal Unit. Both of those units were vertical units meaning I would handle felony cases from the intial charging of a case all the way through to trial and sentencing. I also worked at the Department of the Attorney General for approximately three years as the Lead Prosecutor and Assistant Grant Coordinator for the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and the High Technology Crimes Unit. My focus at that time was on charging and prosecuting criminal offenses with an emphasis on computer crimes. I stepped out of the prosecution realm for a little over a year and worked as the County Housing Coordinator in the Office of Housing for the City and County of Honolulu. During that time, I worked on housing and homelessness issues. I then decided to get back into the legal field and was fortunate to work for Gallagher, Kane, Amai & Reyes for about four and a half years focusing on insurance defense. After a few years, the firm graciously allowed me to also work as a per diem Family Court judge. As a per diem Family Court judge I handled juvenile cases, restraining orders, and divorce cases. In 2017, I was appointed as a District Court judge as was assigned to the criminal division. My time as a District Court judge was pre-covid so I was able to preside at the various Rural Courts besides the main courthouse. Most recently I was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2019 as a trial judge in the criminal division. However, for about two and a half years, I was presiding over specialty courts which includes Hawaii Drug Court, Veterans Treatment Court and Mental Health Court. These specialty courts have a unique and therapeutic approach to assisting defendants that are struggling with a variety of issues from mental health to homelessness and substance abuse addiction. The Judiciary was given the opportunity to start a program for women, and I have been able to be a part of the creation of Women's Court (Mohala Wahine) which is just reaching one year of operation. At the beginning of this year, I was assigned a trial calendar again but I have been able to keep presiding over Women's Court. Around the same time that we were creating Women's Court, I became a member of the Women's Corrections Implementation Commission (WCIC). The focus of WCIC is to create a plan to divert non-violent women offenders, especially those with minor children, from the criminal justice system. WCIC is made up of women from a variety of backgrounds including social workers, community advocates, and deputy public defenders and prosecuting attorneys. All in all, I have been blessed to have had women throughout my career that have supported, assisted and helped me to move forward and accomplish good things and I hope that I can be and do the same for other women.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Late Patricia Mau-Shimizu

Patricia Mau-Shimizu started her legal career as a law clerk to Chief Justice Herman Lum. Then, after some time in private practice, she ventured into public service, which began at the Honolulu City Council and continued at the House of Representatives at the Hawai'i State Capitol. She worked her way up from a researcher to a staff attorney, learning the intricacies of the legislative process along the way.

Then, in 1993, she became the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. The Chief Clerk has extraordinary responsibilities for making the legislative process run smoothly, and Pat excelled in this position while still supporting and uplifting those around her. As Chief Clerk, Pat was known for her hard work ethic and was renowned for working late into the night with her team to meet key deadlines. She is also remembered as being a guiding light for the next generation of many young legislators who graced the Capitol's halls.

After 30 years at the House, Pat retired and took on the role as the Executive Director of the HSBA. Fortunately for our legal community, Pat's passion for service followed her to her new role. As Executive Director, Pat was the heartbeat of the HSBA. With unmatched energy, she oversaw HSBA's vital programmatic services, including aiding the courts in regulating, maintaining and improving the legal profession, the administration of justice, and advancements in jurisprudence. She also dreamed of and executed new initiatives, encouraging all who were fortunate to meet her to do the same.

These examples are just a few of the many examples that reflect Pat's inspiring call to service and unwavering support of initiatives that have bettered our legal profession, while enhancing the status of women lawyers:

Leadership Institute: Very early on in her tenure as Executive Director, Pat found a passion in the HSBA's Leadership Institute. In this program, promising young attorneys spend a year developing relationships and being mentored by experienced members of the bar and the broader community to promote the longevity of the profession. Along with retired Circuit Court Judge Riki May Amano, Pat supported aspiring attorneys throughout the program and then maintained a community of Institute graduates thereafter, keeping an ever-watchful eye as their careers blossomed. Pat was passionate about the Institute and the opportunities it provided its Fellows, all while laying the groundwork for the future of our legal community. After Pat's passing, the Pat Mau-Shimizu Leadership Institute Fund was created to support the ongoing efforts of the Institute in Pat's memory. Many members of the Hawai'i Women Lawyers are graduates of this very institute.

Access to Justice & Hawai'i State Bar Foundation: Pat was also passionate about access to justice, and she was an early and ongoing supporter of the self-help centers now located throughout the State, which provide assistance to those with certain civil cases who cannot afford an attorney. She was also instrumental in founding the Hawai'i State Bar Foundation, which is a non-profit that enables bar members to provide financial support for important community initiatives, including those that affect the justice system. In the years since it was founded, it has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthy causes, bettering our communities as a result.

Disaster Response: When there is a natural disaster, HSBA members have been quick to assist thanks to Pat's quiet, yet persistent, encouragement. She had an extraordinary understanding of the nature of our legal community, and a drive to uplift any attorney with a seed of interest in making a positive difference. Whether through a donation drive for Maui wildfire survivors, activation of the bar's many legal sections to address anticipated needs, or by setting up a legal hotline for survivors in need of legal information, Pat was right beside HSBA's members, encouraging them to keep going to fill gaps in services as they arose. Pat’s bold and caring leadership style promoted confidence in emerging leaders, and encouraged many to become the best versions of themselves in the service of others.

Judicial Independence: Pat was also deeply committed to a strong, independent judiciary. She passionately believed that judges should be able to decide cases free from influence or fear of reprisal. Whenever there was legislation that affected the administration of justice, Pat supported the Bar President and other Bar members when they went to testify. Pat also helped to shepherd every judge who was up for Senate confirmation through the thorough review process. Pat's dedication to judicial independence is consistent with the work that Hawai'i Women Lawyers has done to promote judicial diversity on the bench, create opportunities for members to learn about the State and Federal Judiciaries, and encourage female attorneys to apply for judicial vacancies when they arose.

Pat accomplished much throughout her storied career, and it is remarkable that many who knew Pat report feeling like she poured herself into them and their initiatives more than anyone else -- a testament to her uncanny ability to build genuine relationships that she carried throughout her lifetime. She was a friend, confidant, mentor, and cheerleader to many, and was in constant pursuit of opportunities to bring new bar members into the fold. Her love of the legal profession was evident in all that she did. Her legacy continues to live on through the initiatives that she helped to establish and the members of the bar that she inspired.

Distinguished Service Award

Chief Judge R. Mark Browning (Ret.)

Chief Judge R. Mark Browning (Ret.) was the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit until December 2023. Prior to his appointment as Chief Judge, Judge Browning served as Deputy Chief Judge and Senior Judge of the Family Court of the First Circuit for six years. Judge Browning became a Circuit Court Judge in the First Circuit on May 6, 2010. Prior to that, Judge Browning was a District Family Court Judge from 1997 until 2010.

Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Browning was a partner with the law firm Shim, Tam, Kirimitsu, Kitamura & Chang from 1988 through 1997. He also served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu in the mid-1980's. Judge Browning received his J.D. from the Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law.

Judge Browning has received numerous awards throughout his legal career, including: the Niu Award for Distinguished Contribution by an Individual from Volunteer Legal Services, Starfish Award from the Hawaii State Foster Parents Association, Improved Justice Award from the Mediation Center of the Pacific, Angels in Adoption Award from the United States Congress, the Daniel K. Inouye Award from the Hawaii Psychological Association's Board of Directors, the Outstanding Judicial Achievement Award from Hawaii Women Lawyers, the Judiciary's 2013 Jurist of the Year Award, the 2015 Spirit of Justice Award from the Hawaii Justice Foundation, and the Judiciary's 2020 Jurist of the Year Award.

President's Award

Robin Wurtzel

Robin Wurtzel most recently served as Chief Counsel of the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission until her retirement in September, advising the Commission and representing it in court in civil rights cases. Prior to becoming Chief Counsel in 2017 Robin served as an enforcement attorney with the Commission beginning in 2010, enforcing state laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and access to state and state-funded services.

Among the cases for which Robin was responsible was a case of first impression in which a same-gender couple asserted public accommodations discrimination when an owner refused to rent her bed and breakfast to them because they were a lesbian couple. The Commission’s decision finding the refusal to rent violated Hawa‘i public accommodations law was affirmed by the Hawai‘i Intermediate Court of Appeals.

Prior to working for the Commission, Robin taught at the William S. Richardson School of Law, directing the Immigration Law Clinic.

Upon moving to Hawaii in 1990 she was fortunate to meet Pat McManaman and Bill Hoshijo at the non-profit Na Lōio No Na Kānaka, founded by Bill Hoshijo (now known as the Hawaiʻi Immigrant Justice Center at Legal Aid). Robin’s legal career in Hawai‘i includes more than a decade of work as a an attorney at Na Lōio, representing low-income clients in immigration matters, as well as private practice. She was the first attorney in Hawaiʻi to represent victims of human trafficking in the immigration context under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, and has taught workshops on this topic.

Robin has argued in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and state court.

Robin received her B.A. from Brandeis University and her J.D. from the University of Colorado. She attended law school with the goal of being able to provide legal help to those involved in civil disobedience, as well as represent low-income clients in the complex legal system. After graduation she organized the defense of over 300 people arrested at Rocky Flats, a nuclear weapons facility located in Colorado.

Robin was a founding member of the Hawaiʻi Coalition Against Human Trafficking, in which she worked for over a decade. From 1993 to 1997 Robin served on the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Committee on Equality and Access to the Courts and was appointed to the Environmental Council from 1995 to 1997. Her volunteer work has included work with AccessSurf, Life Foundation, FIRST Robotics, Volunteer Legal Services of Hawaiʻi, The Arc and Family Promise, and legal work opposing the previous Administration’s travel ban aimed at predominantly Muslim countries. She is also a member of the Hawai‘i Quilt Guild. She is the proud mother of two adult children: Ezra Varady, who holds a degree in Computer Science and Engineering and Sophia Varady, who is a Ph.D. student in the molecular biology program at the University of Utah.

Previous Awardees

Outstanding Women Lawyer Award
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
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
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
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
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