It’s Law Day In Hawaiʻi Nei. No, Not A Typo
The day is often overlooked, but some — including retired Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald — are making a push to reinvigorate the annual celebration of the U.S. Constitution and rule of law.
Law Day gets little notice every May 1, overshadowed by the International Workers Day it was meant to counter, and our very own Lei Day.
It’s been an annual event since President Eisenhower proclaimed it so in 1958, but for decades it’s been a yawn-and-move-on type of affair for much of the citizenry — if they’ve even heard of it.
There’s a movement afoot to change that, with judges, lawyers and other members of the legal profession looking to the day as a way to highlight the importance of the legal system and judicial independence, amid an increase in threats against judges nationally — and here in the islands.
As part of Law Day, participating attorneys across the nation retook the Attorney’s Oath, which varies from state to state. In Hawai’i, the oath says subscribers will “support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” and faithfully discharge their duties as “attorney, counselor, and solicitor.”
Associate Justice Lisa Ginoza administered the oath to admitted and emeritus members of the bar, and the event was sponsored by the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association.
Bar Association Executive Director Catherine Betts said the event allows for “the opportunity to reflect on the importance of the law and upholding the rule of law. Additionally, it allows us to reflect on the ethics and values we hold as attorneys, and reminds us how important it is to continue working for justice.”
Retired O’ahu First Circuit Family Judge Steve Nakashima was one of about two dozen bar members who attended the second such event held in Hawaiʻi. “It’s a way for people to support the rule of law and demonstrate they believe in the rule of law,” he said.
Judges have become unwitting news subjects in recent years because of threats and violence against them, which some tie to a rise in violent political rhetoric.
A woman was arrested in 2022 for planning to murder Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh, state court judges in Wisconsin and Maryland were killed in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and the son of federal district court judge Esther Salas was killed in 2020 during an attack at her home that also injured her husband.
In Hawai‘i there were 140 instances of inappropriate communication and threats to Judiciary employees in 2025, compared to seven in 2012.
Earlier this year, the Judiciary sought $3.25 million to hire private security to address the increase in incidents at state courts.
Local celebrations for Law Day took place simultaneously in Kaua‘i, Maui and on Hawai‘i island in Kailua-Kona and Hilo.
