Shirley M. Kawamura at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Hawaii · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Shirley M. Kawamura
Circuit Court Judge · Hawaii Circuit Court, First Circuit
Biography
Professional career
- Circuit Court Judge for the Oʻahu First Circuit in Hawaii, specializing in Civil and Environmental cases, appointed in 2015 and serving until 2025
- Sworn in as a Judge of the First Circuit Court on December 17, 2015, appointed by then-Governor David Ige
- She initially held the role of a per diem judge in the Oʻahu First Circuit District and Family Courts before her 2012 appointment to the First Circuit District Court by Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald.
- Began her legal career as a judicial law clerk to Hon
Education
- Stanford Law School in — J.D. (1997)
- Brown University — B.A.
Additional information
- In July 2026, Judge Kawamura halted redevelopment of a Ritz-Carlton resort on Oʻahu’s North Shore after finding that prior environmental reviews were outdated and failed to account for the increased presence of the endangered nalo meli maoli (Hawaiian yellow-faced bee).
- Her official biography states that she initially was appointed to the First Circuit District Court on May 29, 2012.
- She later returned to private practice at Kawashima Lorusso LLP before her judicial appointment
- Before becoming a district judge she held the role of a per diem judge in both Oahu District and Family Courts, an associate at Kawashima Lorusso LLP, and a trial deputy at the Office of the Public Defender.
- She is a member of the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association and has served on the Legal Aid Board of Directors
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 ↗