--- title: "Donald Koji Tsukiyama | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-toji-tsukiyama-7208" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Donald Koji Tsukiyama Hawaii Circuit Court, First Circuit · Circuit Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Hawaii Circuit Court, First Circuit - State: Hawaii - Role: Circuit Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-08-09 ## Summary Donald Koji Tsukiyama served as a Hawaii First Circuit Court judge and retired in 1990. ## Biography ### Professional career - Donald Koji Tsukiyama (1933–2014) was a distinguished retired Circuit Court Judge of Hawaii’s First Circuit, known for his integrity, fairness, and decades of public service - Judge, Hawaii Circuit Court, First Circuit, 1980-1990 - Circuit Court Judge, First Circuit (appointed 1980 by Governor George Ariyoshi) - District Family Court Judge, First Circuit (appointed 1980) - Three months later Governor George Ariyoshi appointed him a Circuit Court judge ### Education - Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1959 and 1962, respectively ### Additional information - Judge Tsukiyama passed away peacefully at his Honolulu home on June 1, 2014, aged 80. - Donald Koji Tsukiyama was born October 17, 1933, in Honolulu and died June 1, 2014, in Honolulu at age 80. - Retired from the Circuit Court in 1990 after 10 years on the bench - Donald Koji Tsukiyama was born October 17, 1933 in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Wilfred C. and Grace T. Tsukiyama. - Date of birth: 1933-10-17 - Following eight years as a public defender, Chief Justice William Richardson appointed him a First Circuit District Family Court judge. - He graduated from Roosevelt High School and later earned both his Bachelor’s degree - He graduated from Roosevelt High School and pursued undergraduate and law degrees at University of Colorado at Boulder. - His father, Chief Justice Wilfred Tsukiyama, swore him in as an attorney after he passed the bar. - His career spanned over 40 years in legal service, and he was a member of the American Bar Association, Hawaii Bar Association, and Phi Alpha Delta ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### extended coverage notice Scope: statewide Hawaii requires news media to notify a court coordinator before electronic or photographic coverage of a judicial proceeding, including audio recording, film, videotape, or still photography. Evidence excerpt: The news media must notify a court coordinator of their intent to provide any electronic or photographic coverage of a judicial proceeding. [Cameras and Audio Equipment](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/news_and_reports/media_guidelines/cameras_and_audio_equipment) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### camera microphone placement Scope: statewide Hawaii leaves courtroom camera and microphone placement to the judge and cautions that judges may differ on placement rules. Evidence excerpt: The judge will decide where cameras and microphones can be placed in the courtroom. Judges differ on this - so please ask. [Cameras and Audio Equipment](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/news_and_reports/media_guidelines/cameras_and_audio_equipment) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/76903NCJRS.pdf) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7208/donald-toji-tsukiyama/) - [Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7208/donald-toji-tsukiyama/) - [Cameras and Audio Equipment](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/news_and_reports/media_guidelines/cameras_and_audio_equipment) - [Remote Court Hearings via Zoom](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/remote-court-hearings-via-zoom-or-webex) - [Hawaii Judiciary 1980 Annual Report](https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/76903NCJRS.pdf) - [University of Colorado Law School Amicus, Fall 2014](https://www.colorado.edu/law/sites/default/files/Amicus_2014fall_web.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7208/donald-toji-tsukiyama/) - [obits.staradvertiser.com](https://obits.staradvertiser.com/2014/06/15/judge-donald-koji-tsukiyama/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7208/donald-toji-tsukiyama/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-toji-tsukiyama-7208", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-toji-tsukiyama-7208", "name": "Donald Koji Tsukiyama | KnowJudges", "description": "Donald Koji Tsukiyama, Hawaii Circuit Court, First Circuit. 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