JUDGE THOMAS KAULUKUKUI, JR. (Ret.)

    PANEL LOCATION

    All neutrals on the DPR Panel are willing to travel to the neighbor islands and the mainland. If you have any questions, please contact DPR at (808) 523-1234

    Judge Thomas K. Kaulukukui, Jr. (Ret.) was born in Honolulu in 1945. He graduated from Kamehameha High School in 1963. He continued his education at Michigan State University where he majored in physical education with a minor in English and a cognate in philosophy. He graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in the field of education.

    After service as a paratrooper in Vietnam, in 1970 he returned to Michigan State where he studied for a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology. After college, he taught physical education in the public school systems in Michigan and Hawaii. He also coached football and wrestling.

    In 1977, Judge Kaulukukui earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii. After law school, he served a law clerk to Chief Judge Samuel P. King, United States District Judge, District of Hawaii.

    After a career as an attorney in which he specialized in various aspects of commercial law and litigation, he served as a state trial judge. During his tenure on the bench, he was a civil trial and motions judge, criminal trial and motions judge, Land Court judge, tax appeal judge, and arbitration judge. He also served by designation on the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Hawaii Supreme Court.

    Judge Kaulukukui was a member of the Executive Committee of the Hawai‘i State Trial Judges Association. He also serves on the Board of Bar Examiner and on the Disciplinary Board.

    During his career, Judge Kaulukukui has served as a settlement judge, arbitrator and mediator in numerous cases, both simple and complex.   The Judge’s areas of expertise include Commercial/Business, Contracts , Employment/LaborGeneral CivilInjury/Torts , Real Property, Military/Veterans matters, Martial Arts, and cases involving Hawaiian or other cultural issues or parties.  He applies his education and varied life experiences to find common-sense, practical and efficient solutions to problems and controversies.

    After retiring from the judiciary, Judge Kaulukukui served for 24 years as a trustee of Queen Lili’uokalani Trust, which helps orphan and destitute Hawaiian children.

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