Governor David Ige has appointed Holly T.M. Shikada to be the Attorney General of the State of Hawaiʻi. Shikada will succeed Clare Connors, who was confirmed as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaiʻi on Tuesday, December. 7, by the United States Senate. Connors’ resignation takes effect at the end of the day on Friday, December. 10.

Shikada has been serving as the first deputy since March of 2021. She is a 30-year veteran with the Department of the Attorney General, having served 18 years as the supervising deputy attorney general for the Education Division. She previously led a unit within the department focused on ensuring compliance with a class-action settlement known as the Felix Consent Decree. Shikada also served in the department’s Family Law Division and started her legal career in private practice with the Fujiyama Duffy & Fujiyama law firm.

Shikada attended the University of Hawai‘i, Manoa, where she earned a B.A. in accounting and earned her law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law.

“It is my honor to continue my service to the State of Hawaiʻi as the Attorney General and I am thankful to Governor Ige for entrusting me with this amazing opportunity and responsibility. I have the pleasure of working with some of the best and brightest attorneys in the state and look forward to championing their efforts to make Hawaiʻi a better place. I would also like to congratulate Clare and wish her the best in her new role as U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaiʻi.  I know that our friendship will translate into a great partnership between the Department of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice,” said Shikada in a statement.

Her appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

Photo credit: State of Hawaiʻi Governor’s Office