Green Makes Appointment To Lead Hawaiʻi Appellate Court

Karen Nakasone has served on the Intermediate Court of Appeals since 2020.

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Karen Nakasone has served on the Intermediate Court of Appeals since 2020.

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green on Thursday announced his selection of Karen Nakasone to be the new chief judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

If confirmed by the Hawaiʻi state Senate, Nakasone will fill the vacancy left by the elevation last year of Judge Lisa Ginoza to associate justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court.

Judge Karen Nakasone (Governor’s Office photo)

Nakasone has served on the ICA as an associate judge since November 2020.

According to a press release from the Green administration, she was initially appointed to the Circuit Court on O‘ahu by former Gov. Neil Abercrombie in 2011.

She also served as a trial judge for nine years in both the civil and criminal divisions.

Nakasone served as law clerk to ICA Judge Simeon R. Acoba Jr., then worked for 15 years as a criminal trial and appellate lawyer for the state Office of the Public Defender.

A graduate of the Boston University School of Law and Bryn Mawr College, Nakasone also attended the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa.

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