Paula A. Nakayama

Paula A. Nakayama (born October 19, 1953) of Honolulu, Hawaii is Associate Justice of the Hawaii State Supreme Court. She served her first term from 1993 to 2003. She served her second term from 2003 to 2013.

Biography

At a young age, Nakayama moved to San Jose, California where she graduated from Blackford High School. She then went on to study at the University of California at Davis where she obtained her bachelor's degree in consumer economics. She obtained her doctorate of jurisprudence at the Hastings College of Law. In 1979, Nakayama joined the staff of the Prosecuting Attorney of Honolulu as a deputy prosecutor. In 1982, she joined the law firm Shim, Tam, Sigal and Naito where she became a partner.

It was from private practice that in 1992, Governor John Waihee appointed Nakayama to the Hawaii State Judiciary as a circuit court judge. Confident of her skill, the governor elevated Nakayama to the Hawaii State Supreme Court in 1993 — the first woman on the court in 26 years. The Hawaii Judicial Selection Commission retained and reappointed Nakayama for a second term in 2003 and for a third term in 2013. Nakayama is a member of the Hawaii Democratic Party.