Henry T. Nakamoto at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Hawaii · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends October 29, 2027
Henry T. Nakamoto
Circuit Court Judge · Hawaii Circuit Court, Third Circuit
Biography
Professional career
- Selected as a Circuit Court Judge of the Third Circuit on October 30, 2017, by Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, with his term expiring on October 29, 2027
- Prior to this, he held the role of a Family District Court Judge of the Third Circuit starting in 2014, where he also held the role of Administrative Judge for the District Court.
- From 1991 to 2014, he was an attorney with the law firm Nakamoto, Okamoto and Yamamoto, becoming a partner in 1996
- Earlier, he served as an associate at Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn & Stifel in Honolulu from 1989 to 1991
- Circuit Court Judge, Hawaii Circuit Court, Third Circuit
Education
- University of California Hastings College of the Law — 1989
Additional information
- Judges in Hawaii, including Nakamoto, may recuse themselves from cases if their impartiality could reasonably be questioned, as he did in the 2026 Hilo double homicide case involving Joshua Ho
- He held the role of President of the Hawaiʻi County Bar Association in 2000 and has been involved with Waiakea Intermediate School’s Community Council and the Waiakea High School Foundation, where he has held the presidency for nearly ten years.
- the Cornell University and Hastings College of the Law, and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1989
- Highly experienced jurist with a long-standing career in law and public service, recognized for his expertise in family and civil law, and his active engagement in Hawaii’s legal and community organizations
- Beyond his judicial duties, Nakamoto has been active in professional and community service.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Extended Coverage Notice
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.
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 ↗
Camera Microphone Placement
Statewide
Hawaii leaves courtroom camera and microphone placement to the judge and cautions that judges may differ on placement rules.
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 ↗
Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 6, 2026.
Hawaii State Judiciary official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Hawaii State Judiciary official judicial roster ↗Cameras and Audio Equipment
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Cameras and Audio Equipment ↗Remote Court Hearings via Zoom
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Remote Court Hearings via Zoom ↗