By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin

Judge James Aiona and Circuit Court Clerk Helen Dias
put the lid on the last box he packed in his office before
he left yesterday. Seven judges either retired or
announced their retirements in 1998.

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Kauai judge seventh
to quit in ’98, but
record year was ’92

Gerald Matsunaga says personal
reasons, not the lack of a pay
raise, prompted his departure

By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

It was a year when courtroom motions seemed a reference to judges leaving the bench -- and one more has been added to the list.

The state Judiciary announced that yesterday was the last day on the job for Kauai Administrative District Judge Gerald S. Matsunaga -- the latest in a line of judges who decided this year to step down.

A number of them have cited the lack of a pay raise as the reason for their departures, but not Matsunaga.

"Although I am extremely disappointed that judges have not had a pay raise for the past eight years, I am retiring for personal reasons unrelated to the level of my pay, and have no immediate plans for the future," he said.

The Judiciary has counted seven judges who have either retired or have announced their retirements in 1998, which is not a record, according to a spokesman.

Judiciary records dating back to 1990 showed that 11 judges left in 1992.

Besides Matsunaga, the other judges this year include:

Maui Circuit Judge John McConnell, who retired May 1.

Honolulu District Judge James Dannenberg, who retired May 12.

Honolulu Circuit Judge James Aiona, whose last day was yesterday.

Maui Circuit Judge Boyd Mossman, who also retired yesterday.

Honolulu Circuit Judge Herbert Shimabukuro, also with a year-end retirement.

Intermediate Court of Appeals Associate Judge Walter S. Kirimitsu, who announced earlier this month that he will be stepping down to take a job at the University of Hawaii. His last day is Jan. 31.

Hawaii's justices and judges have not had a pay increase since 1990. Aiona and Mossman were among the judges who cited pay as a reason for leaving.

Annual salaries now range from $81,780 for District Court judges to $94,780 for the chief justice.

Chief Justice Ronald Moon has expressed his worries about the continuing departure of judges over money. The Legislature is expected to take up a judges' pay raise in the upcoming session.

Moon thanked Matsunaga "for his many years of dedicated service to the courts and to the people of Hawaii, and I wish him best in his future endeavors."

Matsunaga, 60, has been a District Court judge since 1984. In 1992, he became administrative judge of Kauai's District Court.

In 1973, he was elected Kauai County prosecutor. His previous positions have included being a deputy attorney general, a Legal Aid lawyer, a deputy county attorney and deputy public defender.