Hilo Attorney Henry T. Nakamoto Named Family Court Judge

A Hilo attorney has been named a Family Court judge of the state Judiciary’s Third Circuit.

Henry T. Nakamoto was appointed to the position by Mark Recktenwald, chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court, the Judiciary announced Wednesday.

Nakamoto will replace retiring Judge Anthony Bartholomew, whose term expires June 5.

Nakamoto has been an associate since 1992 and partner since 1996 in the Hilo firm of Nakamoto, Okamoto and Yamamoto.

Prior to that, he worked with the Honolulu law firm of Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn and Stifel since being admitted to the Hawaii Bar in 1989.

Nakamoto has been a civil litigator in family law, real estate law and estate planning. He has served as a guardian ad litem and special master for the Family Court of the District Court in the Third Circuit, which consists of Hawaii County. He has also served as an arbitrator.

Nakamoto, 50, received his law degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University.

Born in Hilo, he is active in professional, public and community service organizations, including serving as president of the Hawaiʻi County Bar Association in 2000. He currently serves as a parent member of Waiakea Intermediate School’s Community Council and as president of the Waiakea High School Foundation, a position he has held for nearly ten years.

Nakamoto’s term is for six years. His appointment is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

Nakamoto was chosen from a list of six candidates submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission.

That list included Hawaii County Council Chairman J Yoshimoto, county Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida and county Deputy Prosecutor Darien Nagata.