Chief Justice Ronald T. Y. Moon appointed Kelsey T. Kawano as judge of the District Court of the Second Circuit (island of Maui). Kawano fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Douglas Ige.

Kawano currently is a solo practitioner who has handled cases involving family, business, employment, and real estate law. He has been in private practice since 1984, and a sole practitioner since 1994. Kawano has been serving as a part-time district court judge since 2006. He received his law degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 1984.

The chief justice appoints District Court judges from a list of not less than six nominees submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission.

Kawano’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the State Senate.

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Contact: Marsha Kitagawa, 539-4909