Elizabeth Fujiwara – Attorney

Elizabeth Jubin Fujiwara

Prominent Civil Rights and Employment Law Attorney, Honolulu, Hawaii

Elizabeth Jubin Fujiwara is one of Hawai’i’s  most prominent and enduring voices in plaintiff-side employment and civil rights litigation. With over four decades of legal experience, she has consistently stood at the forefront of efforts to dismantle systemic injustices in the workplace and in society at large—particularly as they affect women, people of color, and other marginalized communities.

Ms. Fujiwara has been an active figure in civil rights, employment law, and labor rights even before she became an attorney. For example, in the late ‘60’s she was a community organizer in Kalihi-Palama, then headed up the Kalihi-Palama HeadStart program under H-CAP.  From 1975-1977 Ms. Fujiwara (fka Elizabeth Yonahara) served as the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Hawaii. In 1978 she was one of the two civil rights specialists  for the entire state at the Department of Education (DOE) hired specifically to enforce Title IX. See Fujiwara v. Clark, 703 F.2d 357 (9th Cir. 1983).

Law Career and Legal Expertise

She began her legal career clerking for Judge Walter Heen on Hawaii’s Intermediate Court of Appeals and two years later founded her own employment rights-focused practice in 1986—a bold move at a time when few attorneys in the state focused on representing workers. She is widely regarded as a trailblazer in Hawaii’s employment law community.

Ms. Fujiwara has led numerous landmark cases involving employment discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation. Ms. Fujiwara was recognized as Hawaii’s Outstanding Woman Lawyer in 1987 and is a founding member and former president of the National Employment Lawyers Association-Hawaii (NELA). She also served as National Chair of the Employment Rights Section of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, reflecting her influence on both local and national levels in civil rights law.

From 2001 to 2003, she served as Senior Trial Attorney with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for Hawaii and the Pacific Basin. Her tenure with the EEOC expanded her influence in federal civil rights enforcement, particularly on behalf of women and racial minorities.

In 2011 Ms. Fujiwara co-founded the highly respected firm Fujiwara & Rosenbaum, LLLC, where her practice has continued to focus on employment discrimination, civil rights, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and whistleblower retaliation. 

For example, watch her ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice  video series, such as,

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/on-demand/fighting-rights-disabilities/

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/on-demand/fighting-rights-religious-minorities/

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/on-demand/fighting-rights-lgbtq-community/

Advocacy for Women’s Rights and Title IX Protections

Ms. Fujiwara has been a tireless advocate for women’s equality in the workplace and beyond. Her commitment to women’s legal empowerment is exemplified through her long-time affiliation with Hawai‘i Women Lawyers—serving on its board in the 1980s and, more recently (2022–2024), again on its Legislation Committee.

She is also the originator and principal editor of Our Rights, Our Lives—A Guide to Women’s Legal Rights in Hawai‘i, a landmark publication comprising 59 articles that is a vital resource for women navigating the legal system in the state. See also part of her ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice  video series: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/on-demand/fighting-rights-sexism/

She has successfully litigated numerous cases involving sexual harassment, sex discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and equal pay, establishing precedents that have benefitted countless workers statewide.

She has also supported the strengthening of Title IX protections—particularly for women and girls in education and athletics—and has publicly opposed federal rollbacks of such protections. Besides  litigation, her policy advocacy and public commentary reflect a deep commitment to gender justice.

Champion of Racial Justice

 Having been born and raised in the Deep South in New Orleans, Ms. Fujiwara’s commitment to racial equity is longstanding and unambiguous. In a widely cited Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial in 2020, she called for collective and structural dismantling of white supremacy and systemic racism, with a special emphasis on the experiences of Black women.   She emphasized the importance of solidarity among people of color and called on Hawaii’s institutions to confront the myth of “local harmony” that often masks racial inequities.

Ms. Fujiwara has been an active member of the American Bar Association’s Section on Civil Rights and Social Justice, where she has contributed to public legal education through a compelling nine-part video series on systemic discrimination: “Why Do We Have to Fight for Rights When We Should All Just Be Equal?”—inspired by a middle school student’s question—addresses the persistent challenges of discrimination.

Watch:

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/on-demand/fighting-rights-african-americans/

 https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/on-demand/fighting-rights-hawaiians-alaskans/

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/on-demand/fighting-rights-native-americans/

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/on-demand/fighting-rights-asian-americans/

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/resources/on-demand/fighting-rights-hispanics-latinos/

Protector of Whistleblowers

Ms. Fujiwara has also played a critical role in protecting whistleblowers—workers who expose misconduct within government or private institutions. Her legal representation of courageous whistleblowers  highlights her ability to both legally shield and publicly advocate for individuals who risk their careers to speak the truth.

She is widely seen as one of the few attorneys in Hawaii with a comprehensive grasp of whistleblower law, both under state and federal frameworks, and has repeatedly fought for the public’s right to know.

Support for Reproductive Rights

Ms. Fujiwara has long advocated for reproductive justice, including access to abortion, especially as reproductive freedoms have come under national threat. She was instrumental in the passage of the recent Hawai’i legislation in 2023 (S.B. 1) for improved access to abortion as well as the protection of Hawai’is medical providers. Her broader legal philosophy sees access to healthcare, including reproductive healthcare, as a civil right—fundamental to women’s autonomy, equality, and participation in civic life.

Her public advocacy and legal positions clearly reflect her intersectional understanding of gender, race, and class as overlapping forces that shape women’s access to healthcare and education.

Reputation and Legacy

Ms. Fujiwara is known by clients and colleagues alike for her fierce advocacy, principled stance, and unyielding compassion. Clients frequently describe her as both “formidable in the courtroom” and “deeply empathetic” in private consultations. Her litigation work has contributed to significant legal and policy reforms in Hawaii, particularly in employment protections, gender equality, and whistleblower accountability.

One of Ms. Fujiwara’s cases that was outside of the court system but had a significant impact in Hawai’i was when Ms. Fujiwara served as legal counsel for Dr. Rachael Wong, former Director of the Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services, in a high-profile sexual harassment complaint filed with the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission against then-House Speaker Joseph M. Souki. In 2018, following Ms. Wong’s courageous disclosure and Fujiwara’s legal advocacy, Souki agreed to resign from the legislature, publicly apologize, pay a $5,000 ethics fine, and refrain from seeking elected office for two years. The case marked a watershed moment in Hawaii’s #MeToo movement, spotlighting the culture of silence in political institutions and the power of ethical accountability.

In recent years, she continues to contribute to state and local advocacy through her role on the AAUW Hawai‘i Public Policy Committee and as Chair of the AAUW-Hilo Branch Food Sustainability Committee, where she champions policy initiatives focused on women, economic justice and food security.

Her influence as a mentor, litigator, and legal strategist has made her a cornerstone of the civil rights bar in Hawaii.

Published Works

  • Cause of Action for Post-Ellerth/Faragher Title VII Employment Sexual Harassment Claims (with Joyce M. Brown), Causes of Action, 2d (Clark Boardman Callaghan), 27 COA2d 1 (2011)
  • Our Rights, Our Lives, Sponsored by the Hawaii Women Lawyers (1st, 2nd and 3rd ed. 1996)
  • Employee Rights Under Judicial Scrutiny: Prevalent Discourse and the Hawaii Supreme Court, University of Hawaii Law Review, Summer, 1992
  • Proving Damages in a Sexual Harassment Case, Trial, Vol. 30, No 4, 1994
  • Sexual Harassment and Litigation Strategies: Plaintiff Attorney’s Perspective, Hawaii Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Feb. 12, 1993, pp. 35-64
  • Sexual Harassment and Litigation Strategies: Plaintiff Attorney’s Perspective (reprinted by permission), Employee Advocacy, Summer, 1993, p. 2
  • ATLA Employment Section Newsletter, Editor and Frequent Contributor, 1995-96

National Workshops/Seminars Taught

  • Sexual Harassment and Litigation Strategies: Plaintiff Attorney’s Perspective, ATLA Annual Convention, 1993
  • Handbooks and Disclaimers: Claims and Issues, ATLA Annual Convention, 1994
  • Effective Techniques in Handling Harassment Cases, NELA Conference, 1994

Honors and Awards

Outstanding Woman Lawyer – Hawaii, 1987

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • National Employment Lawyers Association-Hawaii Founder, Chapter President
  • National Employment Lawyers Association-Hawaii, 1993 – 1996 President and Legislative Chair
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America: Employment Section, National Chair 1997 – 1998
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America: Employment Section, 1992 – 1997 National Officer

Past Employment Positions

  • EEOC for Hawaii and the Pacific Basin, Senior Trial Attorney, 2001 – 2003
  • Law Office of Elizabeth Jubin Fujiwara, 1986 – 2001
  • Judge Walter Heen, Intermediate Court of Appeals, Hawaii, Judicial Clerk, 1984 – 1986

Areas of Practice

  • Sexual Harassment Mediation and Litigation
  • Employee Rights
  • Civil Rights
  • Labor Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Neutral Fact-Finder in Employment Matters
  • Entertainment Representation and Contract Negotiation

Alternative Dispute Resolution available in all matters.

Bar Admissions

  • Hawaii
  • Colorado
  • S. District Court District of Hawaii
  • S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Education

  • D. Law Review: William S. Richardson School of Law Law Review, 1982 – 1983
  • Professional Mediation Associates, Mill Valley, California, 2004 Certificate, Comprehensive Mediation Training
  • Arbitration Training, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1992 Certificate in Arbitration
  • University of Hawaii School of Social Work, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1971 M.S.W.
  • Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1967 B.A. in Sociology
Schedule a Consultation