She was appointed in 2009 by President Barack Obama, replacing Edward H. Kubo Jr. who left to become a Judge on the Hawaii First Circuit Court.

Attorneys nationwide, she represented the United States government in all civil and criminal cases within the district.

[4] She initially wanted to be a high school English teacher, but changed career paths after college.

[5] After graduating from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the William S. Richardson School of Law in 1975 and 1978, respectively, she clerked for Justice Thomas Ogata of the Hawaii Supreme Court.

[6] Just prior to her appointment as US Attorney, she served as Chief of the Organized Crime and Narcotics section of the Criminal Division.