Fifteen years after his passing, Federal Judge Samuel P. King, a distinguished Navy veteran and Republican icon from Hawaii, resonates. His philosophical voice offers common sense and enduring relevance in today’s complex world. King’s life embodied Ho’oponopono – the Hawaiian practice of setting things right – a principle he championed from wartime to the courtroom.

From WWII to Hiroshima’s Witness

Born in China in 1916, Samuel P. King followed his U.S. Naval officer father, joining the Navy as an intelligence officer during World War II. He served aboard USS Adams (DM-27). Witnessing Hiroshima’s devastation in 1945 profoundly fueled his lifelong commitment to peace.

“Judge Sam King: A Memoir” & Peace

King’s posthumously published autobiography, “Judge Sam King: A Memoir” (Watermark 2013), offers deep insights. With a foreword by WWII veteran Senator Daniel K. Inouye, it highlights King’s crucial role in Hawaii’s statehood. An appendix features his powerful April 1985 Hiroshima address, 40 years after the war. King declared: “That August 1945 explosion… was a terrible event… mankind must prevent from ever happening again,” emphasizing law’s role in fostering “world peace.”

Justice, Accountability, and Law

King’s reflections extended to domestic justice. In his 1969 Law Day USA remarks, he underscored individual responsibility to embrace the rule of law and accountability. Amidst the Vietnam War, he advocated for “mutual understanding and love” as justice’s bedrock, asserting, “where there is unrestricted freedom, there is unleashed equality.”

The King Family’s Statehood Fight

The King family’s commitment to Hawaii’s destiny was profound. Judge King’s father, Samuel Wilder King, passionately championed statehood, partly due to military martial law during the infamous Massie case. The elder King drafted Hawaii’s constitution, seeking to free Hawaii from distant congressional oversight. He passed weeks after Hawaii became the 50th state.

Judicial Legacy: Family Court to “Broken Trust”

After his distinguished Navy career, Samuel P. King dedicated himself to the judiciary. His proudest achievement was founding Hawaii’s Family Court. As a Federal Judge, he presided over complex cases—from organized crime to treason—guided by “justice tempered with mercy.” He championed environmental issues, abortion rights, nuclear disarmament, and the First Amendment, defending media freedom. His landmark 2006 book, “Broken Trust,” helped clean up corruption in Hawaii, demonstrating his commitment to accountability and Ho’oponopono.

An Enduring Philosophy

Though a lifelong Republican, Judge King admitted he wasn’t “like the right-wing conservatives we have today.” His watchwords—aloha, pono (respect), and Ho’oponopono—encapsulated a philosophy rooted in integrity, truth, and community. His insights on peace, justice, and responsibility remain relevant, urging us to strive for “the right way, the just way.”