Thomas Ka’auwai Kaulukukui, Jr.
Chair and Managing Trustee

Thomas Ka‘auwai Kaulukukui, Jr. was appointed as trustee in 1998. Today, he serves as the chair of the Board of Trustees and Managing Trustee. His varied life experiences have helped him take a practical and direct approach to problem-solving and decision-making. He strongly believes that effective leadership is based upon what he calls “The Five C’s”: Character, Courage, Commitment, Competency and Compatibility.

He was born in Honolulu on November 11, 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 Education.

After graduation, he taught physical education in the public school system in Okemos, Michigan. From 1968 to 1970, he was a paratrooper in Vietnam, serving as an airborne platoon sergeant. He was honorably discharged in 1970 and decorated by both the United States and the Republic of Vietnam. After his military service, he returned to graduate school at Michigan State University, and specialized in exercise physiology.

When the opportunity arose, he returned to Hawai‘i in 1971 to teach physical education at Kailua High School where he served as the head wrestling coach and assistant football coach. He also taught English at Samuel Wilder King Intermediate School.

In 1974, he entered the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai‘i. He graduated from law school in 1977 and was admitted to the Bar of the State of Hawai‘i. He was then selected from a national pool of applicants to be law clerk to Chief Judge Samuel P. King of the United States District Court for the District of Hawai‘i, where he served for one year. He also served as a clerk to the federal appellate court (Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals) when Judge King sat by designation on the panel.

In 1978, he entered the private practice of law and handled a wide variety of civil cases before the state and federal courts, as well as state and federal administrative agencies. His law practice emphasized business litigation and related matters, but he also has substantial experience in matters involving planning, counseling and negotiation. He has served as court-appointed Commissioner, a Special Master to aid the court in handling difficult litigation, and court appointed guardian (legal guardian). He often donated his legal services to help those who would otherwise be unable to afford legal representation.

In March 1988, Governor John D. Waihe‘e, III, appointed him to be a trial judge of the First Circuit Court in Honolulu. He presided over criminal trials, criminal motions, civil jury trials and civil motions. He served as the Arbitration Judge, and as the Land Court, Tax Appeal and Administrative Appeal Judge.

In March 1993, he relinquished his judgeship to work to improve the health of the people of Hawai‘i, and especially the health of Hawaiians. He became the vice president of Community Affairs, for the Queen’s Health Systems (QHS). At QHS, he worked to improve community health through a variety of programs, such as preventative health, education, housing, youth leadership and Hawaiian culture.

Judge Kaulukukui is a member of the Bar of the State of Hawai‘i, the United States District Court for the District of Hawai‘i, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He was appointed by the Hawai‘i Supreme Court to serve on the Board of Bar Examiners. He served on the board from 1982 to 1986. He was appointed a member of the Disciplinary Panel of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, and has also served as a member of the Disciplinary Board.

In 1995, he was appointed by Governor Benjamin Cayetano to be an O`ahu Commissioner of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, a position he held for nearly four years. He has also served as a board member of the March of Dimes, Pacific Islanders in Communication, Family Treatment Center, Winners at Work, and a congressional Advisory Committee for Minority Veterans. He is also an instructor and mentor in various leadership programs, including Hawaiʻi Leadership Center, Pa Ulukukui Leadership Center, as well as several youth leadership programs. He is a skilled orator who speaks often on topics relating to leadership.

Judge Kaulukukui and his wife, Joyce, have been married since 1967. They have three adult children and eight grandsons.