Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, Article VI, Appointment of Justices and Judges, Section 3 (as amended by SB 2927 (2024) and election Nov. 5, 2024): “The chief justice, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the district courts by appointing a person from a list of not less than four and not more than six nominees for the vacancy presented to the chief justice by the judicial selection commission.”

The Judicial Selection Commission is pleased to announce a list of nominees for the judicial office of District Judge, District Court of the First Circuit (island of Oʻahu), State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office became vacant upon the elevation of former District Judge Karin L. Holma to the position of Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit in May 2025.

The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy for the judicial office of District Judge in the District Court of the First Circuit are listed as follows in alphabetical order:

• Russ S. Awakuni
• William C. Bagasol
• Kyle T. Dowd
• Kirsha K. M. Durante
• Chastity T. Imamura
• Simeona L. L. A. Mariano

The Acting Chief Justice has 30 days from her receipt of the list today to make her appointment.

Statistics

• Total Applicants: 17; 5 Females; 12 Males
• First Time Applicants: 1

 

• Government Attorneys: 7
• Private Attorneys: 8
• Per Diem Judges: 5
• Other: 2

 

• Age Range: 1 (31-40); 8 (41-50); 7 (51-60); 1 (61-70)

 

• Years Licensed Range: 11 years to 31 years

 

Additional Information

• One (1) Applicant withdrew before meeting with the Judicial Selection Commission and is not included in the statistics above.
• Days in Recruitment: 90 days
• Meetings held and decision made in January 2026 with 7 Commissioners present.