Russell Kono was judge for 25 years here

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Russell Katsuhiro Kono, a retired administrative judge for the District Court of Honolulu, died Nov. 27. He was 85 years old.

Kono also served as a legislator in the House of Representatives in 1955.

Kono was born Aug. 10, 1918, in Na'alehu, Ka'u, on the Big Island and graduated from Hilo High School in 1936. He got his Bachelor of Arts in Gettysburg, Pa.

From 1942 to 1945, he served in the combat infantry group known as Merrill's Marauders in Burma. He was an interpreter with the Military Intelligence Service, and received two Presidential Unit Citations and a Bronze Star during his military service.

He got his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1940, and was in private practice from 1948 to 1958.

He served as administrative judge for the District Court of Honolulu for 25 years before retiring in 1983.

Kono is survived by his wife, Florence; daughters, Trisha Tubbs and Lori Clapp; son, Alan; and five grandchildren.

Private family services were held at an earlier date. Kono's ashes were scattered.