Tina was born in Hawaii and graduated from Stanford University in 1976 where she was a Phi Beta Kappa. Tina then attented Stanford Law School and graduated in the top 5% of her class in 1979. Upon graduation Tina joined Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn and Stifel. In 1989 she left to join Price Okamoto Himeno & Lum.
Tina concentrates in real estate and finance, focusing on resort and residential development, and the acquistion of commercial properties. She has participated in the development of several major resorts including the Mauna Kea Beach Resort, the Waikoloa Beach Resort and the Kauai Logoons Resort (Westin Kauai).
Tina also acted as Hawaii counsel for California-based developer Watt Industories (now Laing Homes), and in that capacity, was responsible for all legal aspects of the development of market priced and affordable homes in a master-planned community sponsored by the State of Hawaii's Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Her work on these projects has included the negotiation and documentation of development agreements and loan agreements, drafting of sales contracts, deeds, easements, and similar agreements; filing of Land Court applicationsl; handling of real estate brokerage issues; and the drafting of condominium documents.
Tina was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Information Network Corporation (Hawaii INC.) by Governor John Waihee in 1988, and served as Chair of the Board for two years. She is also a licensed Real Estate Broker.