Hawai‘i’s Got Pride 2024: Spotlight on Justice Sabrina McKenna

The Hawai‘i Supreme Court associate justice is one of only a handful of openly gay state supreme court justices in the U.S. 

“I’m proud of my background, It makes me a better justice to be able to understand and appreciate different perspectives – and to also be open-minded myself,” says Hawai‘i Supreme Court Justice Sabrina McKenna. McKenna is a role model for many, and a true trailblazer: a biracial, bilingual, bicultural, lesbian, immigrant woman largely raised by a single mom.

She is a graduate of UH Mānoa, where she earned a scholarship playing for the Rainbow Wahine basketball team starting in its inaugural season in 1974. She then attended UH’s Richardson School of Law, and worked as a civil litigator, corporate counsel and law professor before becoming a state trial court judge in 1993. McKenna was sworn in as an associate justice in 2011 and is one of fewer than a dozen openly gay state supreme court justices in the U.S.

Her role as an associate justice, she says, “is a humbling responsibility but also an opportunity” to rule on issues “in a way that I hope will create a better Hawai‘i.”

She is known for advocating for equality, dignity and access for all within the judicial system. In 2023, McKenna received the American Bar Association’s prestigious Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award – the highest award for female lawyers nationwide.

In terms of gender issues and sexual orientation, McKenna says Hawai‘i is ahead of the national curve.

“For me, what made a big difference was that in 1991, Hawai‘i became the third state to outlaw employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,” she says. That move, she says, made it more comfortable for her to come out to her colleagues.

However, she adds: “The biggest thing is acceptance by one’s family. I implore parents to accept their children for who they are.”

McKenna is single and is the proud mother of three, including a son who is a lawyer, a daughter who is in law school, and a son who is an Army Reserve officer and student.

In her down time, McKenna enjoys walking for exercise, and karaoke with her friends. Her go-to song? Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park.” Disco fans know that song has some pretty hard notes to hit, but we’re guessing McKenna nails it.