Emerging Legal Stars 2026
Meet sixteen attorneys who are redefining excellence early in their careers.
Sharon Paris
Lung Rose Voss & Wagnild
Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh
Law School: UH Mānoa
Sharon Paris is a litigator at the firm, concentrating in business, real estate, construction, and commercial litigation. Paris has handled agency litigation and land use proceedings; boundary and title disputes; historic preservation matters under HRS Chapter 6E; environmental litigation; foreclosure cases; construction defect claims; procurement disputes under Hawai‘i’s Procurement Code; and discrimination defense before the Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission and Circuit Court.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “After I graduated college and moved to Hawai‘i, I took my LSAT, but put that on hold because I started my family. I started at a non-profit board, and an attorney that I was working with encouraged me to take the next step in my career. I looked into Richardson and by that time they had started their part-time program. So I was able to go back to school while still working full-time.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “I would tell myself to be a little bit more patient and to slow down. This career is a practice. It’s not a race and it’s not something that you can accomplish with a checklist.”
Grant F. Allison
Lung Rose Voss & Wagnild
Undergraduate: Santa Clara University
Law School: UH Mānoa
Grant Allison is a litigator at the firm, concentrating in business, real estate, land use and construction disputes. Prior to law school, he worked as a commercial real estate appraiser in Honolulu, giving him firsthand expertise in property valuation, development, and finance that directly informs his practice. Allison regularly represents lessors and lessees in ground rent redeterminations and arbitrations across all Hawai‘i counties.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “I would say there was a person and that person was my mom. Her career was in urban planning and construction management and I would go with her on site visits and to meetings and she would take time and explain to me what she was doing and what sort of urban planning was and what use permits were. It just got me interested in it from a very early age.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “You control what you can control. What you can’t control are the facts or what other people do and say, and you cannot fault yourself for what you can’t control. If you have done your job, you’ve been prepared, you’ve come and worked out all the contingencies and you have a strategy and you’ve done your job as a litigation counsel and as a lawyer, you should always hold your head up high and be proud of the work you’ve done.”
Steven T. Wall
Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP
Undergraduate: Loyola Marymount University
Law School: University of California College of the Law, San Francisco
Steven Wall focuses his practice in the firm’s Captive Insurance group at Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP. He leverages years of experience in litigation and corporate transactions to develop tailored strategies that address the unique legal needs of every client. With a diverse background advising on insurance, regulatory compliance, contracts, construction, personal injury, professional malpractice, employment and a wide range of business disputes, Mr. Wall draws on a broad base of experience to deliver practical and effective solutions to complex legal challenges.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “I wouldn’t say that there was a single moment for me. When I was in school, each attorney in my family and friend network spoke with a level of intellect, poise, and authority that I aspired to develop. Moreover, each was as passionate about the law as they were about their personal interests, and I respected every one of them. I’m very thankful for those experiences, because the full body of these interactions inspired me to pursue my career in law.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “I would tell myself to start networking immediately—to branch out and meet as many people working in our community as possible, because you never know where those connections might lead.”
Kenory E. Khuy
Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP
Undergraduate: UH Mānoa
Law School: UH Mānoa
Kenory Khuy concentrates her practice in estate planning, probate and trust administration, and civil litigation. She graduated with honors from the William S. Richardson School of Law in 2019. Following law school and prior to joining Goodsill, Khuy served as a law clerk to Chief Judge R. Mark Browning of the First Circuit Court of Hawai‘i Probate Court and to Associate Justice Sabrina S. McKenna of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “I credit my current career in law to a series of serendipitous mentors. First, was a close friend whom I reconnected with who was having a great time in law school and encouraged me to apply. Thereafter, I had professors, supervisors and classmates who made my law school experiences so uniquely enjoyable. After law school, I had the good fortune of clerking for an amazing judge and justice, both of whom showed me how impactful good and bad lawyering could be on our community, and that being an attorney is both an honor and a great responsibility.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “As fun as the practice of law is, it will consume your life if left unchecked, and burnout is not only a disservice to yourself but also to your colleagues and clients.”
Sabrina M. Kawana
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP
Undergraduate: Willamette University
Law School: UH Mānoa
Sabrina Kawana is an associate in the firm’s Honolulu office and a member of its Construction and Commercial Litigation practice groups. Prior to joining GRSM, she practiced as a litigation associate at a civil law firm in Honolulu and served as a law clerk to the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Honorable Jeannette H. Castagnetti of the First Circuit Court of Hawai‘i.
After earning her undergraduate degree, she returned home to O‘ahu to attend the William S. Richardson School of Law, where she received CALI Awards for the highest grades in Civil Rights and Construction Litigation.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “I always enjoyed problem solving with my friends and peers. Often, they would come to me with their concerns or their problems and I loved taking action and helping them through any hardships or difficulties. A career in law really appealed to me for the problem solving aspect and being able to advocate for others.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “I was the hardest and biggest critic of myself as a first year associate and I often got in my own way because of it. So my advice would be to celebrate the small wins and small victories.”
Stephanie Haro-Sevilla
La Luz de el Camino Legal
Undergraduate: UH West O‘ahu
Law School: UH Mānoa
Stephanie Haro-Sevilla recently joined La Luz de el Camino Legal. Previously, she was a Post-Juris Doctor Legal Fellow and Immigrant Advocate at the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, where she still volunteers. Before returning to Richardson as a fellow, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable Rowena A. Somerville of the O‘ahu First Circuit Court of Hawai‘i.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “I was a DACA recipient. So when then President Obama announced the DACA program, it really solidified that the law can impact people and it can make a difference. Through AP government classes, I learned I really like the law and want to have the same impact that these leaders are having on me by helping people.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “Don’t be afraid to be the first one to make an impact. When I first started the immigration and detention hotline, I was very scared at what I was doing because it had never been done before in our state, but if we hadn’t taken the step, then no one else would’ve.”
Travis Yu
Remillard Barbour & Yu
Undergraduate: UH Mānoa
Law School: UH Mānoa
Travis Yu is the newest Partner at Remillard Barbour & Yu, a personal injury law firm. Prior to his partnership, Travis practiced exclusively for eight years at Park & Park, demonstrating his dedication to his clients and his craft. He specializes in a wide range of personal injury matters, including auto collisions, slip-and-fall accidents, medical negligence and wrongful death claims. At Remillard Barbour & Yu, he continues his mission of securing justice and accountability for individuals facing their most challenging moments.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “My father was an attorney in Hawai‘i, but more importantly to me growing up, he was an amazing father and he was a loving husband to my mom. He had a strong moral compass and he inspired me to want to be an attorney and help people in this state.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “I would say do your best to keep an open mind, learn as much as you can every day and do your best to remember that it’s not a sprint, but a marathon.”
Kendrick S. Chang
Watanabe Ing LLP
Undergraduate: George Washington University
Law School: UH Mānoa
Kendrick Chang joined Watanabe Ing as an Associate in 2022, focusing on public utilities, creditor’s rights and regulatory affairs. He frequently represents clients before the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission, Hawai‘i Community Development Authority, and county liquor commissions. Chang is actively involved in multiple professional and community organizations. He serves on the boards of Livable Maunalua Hui, Hawai‘i Kai Lions Club, NAIOP Hawai‘i Developing Leaders, and the United Chinese Society of Hawai‘i.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “I would follow my grandfather a lot and he always enjoyed going to coffee with his other Chinese community association friends. One of whom was a retired circuit court judge and he, at that time, identified that I would either enter a career in law or politics, and I think that was the very first light bulb of inspiration to enter my current profession.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “I would say keep your head up high. Don’t get emotional or depressed over the little things. Always just keep moving forward and don’t look back on the little mistakes.”
Reyn S.P. Ono
Cades Schutte LLP
Undergraduate: Claremont McKenna College
Law School: UH Mānoa
Reyn Ono is an associate in the firm’s Finance, Real Estate, and Corporate Department and serves on its Recruiting and Summer Associate Program Committees. His practice spans public utilities, energy, water resources, real estate, banking and finance, and construction. Reyn represents public utility companies and common carriers regulated by the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission — including providers of electric, sewer, water and transportation services — in certification, rate cases, asset sales and transfers, regulatory matters and formal proceedings.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “I worked in the travel industry before this and enjoyed the client-facing parts of the job. All of those kinds of experiences really informed me and into realizing that a career in law might be right for me.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “Growth happens when you’re in an uncomfortable position. You’re not growing if you’re always comfortable. So I would tell myself to focus on your growth, be open to feedback, and that mistakes are going to happen early and often, so give yourself some grace.”
Bryce M. Nakamura
Cades Schutte LLP
Undergraduate: UH Mānoa
Law School: University of Arizona
Bryce Nakamura is a litigator at Cades Schutte specializing in commercial, construction and real property disputes. His practice focuses on representing builders, design professionals, and owners in construction contracts and defects disputes. He has been listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2025 and 2026. He attended the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona and served as Senior Managing Editor of the Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law and as President of the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Law Society.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “While I was obtaining my undergrad business degree at UH, I had the opportunity to review and analyze different types of contracts that were affecting college athletics at the time. So, I became interested in contract interpretation and how the disputes could arise, and that inspired me to attend law school and pursue a legal career.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “Put in the time and effort to excel at any task that’s thrown at you, no matter how minor or trivial it might seem. Each assignment, whether it’s reviewing documents or checking citations in a brief, is an opportunity to develop the trust of the other attorneys in your firm.”
Ian R. Wesley-Smith
Carlsmith Ball LLP
Undergraduate: Colorado State University
Law School: UH Mānoa
Ian Wesley-Smith is a partner in Carlsmith Ball’s Hilo office and a member of its Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution practice group. He focuses on commercial litigation, including matters involving breach of contract, construction performance and defects, business entity disputes, intellectual property rights, and business torts. He works to achieve successful outcomes in mediation, arbitration, and in both state and federal courts, for clients ranging from publicly traded companies to local individuals.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “It was more of a lifetime process. Every day, I get to help people. Whether your client is a company or whether your client is a person, they’re coming to you because they have a problem or they have a difficult situation, and you get to resolve it for them.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “I think that litigation is very much a craft or a trade in the same way that construction or plumbing is. The job is to approach things in a way where you’re trying to learn this trade and to just have that learning mindset, whether it’s getting a good mentor or whether it’s volunteering for hands-on experience in court.”
Alicia M. Fung
Carlsmith Ball LLP
Undergraduate: UH Mānoa
Law School: UH Mānoa
Alicia Fung is a partner in the firm’s Honolulu office and a member of its Transactional Practice Group, with a focus on real estate and development, as well as business and corporate matters. Before pursuing law, Fung worked as a construction engineer for Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc. She later served as a law clerk to the Honorable Derrick H.M. Chan at the Intermediate Court of Appeals.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “I wouldn’t say there really was a single dramatic ‘aha’ moment for me that spurred my entry into this career. It was more of a gradual process — a pull towards more of the problem solving and an interest in how deals actually come together behind the scenes.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “I’d tell myself not to assume that you’re supposed to know everything because you won’t, and that’s okay. Honestly, that’ll continue for a while and well into the career. That is the nature of the practice; we’re constantly learning. The field is always changing, so that’s something that you need to be comfortable with early on. In earlier years, it’s also easy to get caught up in simply getting the work done, but you should take the time to take a step back and try to understand the bigger picture and purpose behind each assignment.”
Zoe M. Hernandez
Lukela & Kobayashi
Undergraduate: Cornell University
Law School: Pepperdine University
Zoe Hernandez is a family law attorney with experience handling a full range of family law matters, including divorce, post-divorce issues, paternity, temporary restraining orders, child custody and support, adoption, guardianship and premarital agreements. After returning to Hawai‘i from law school, Hernandez focused on family law, handling a broad range of cases, including complex divorces involving high-value assets and business interests, as well as child custody matters.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “It wasn’t necessarily one single moment: I’ve always known and I’ve always been driven by a desire to help others and to serve my local community. I think that’s been the biggest theme for me throughout my life.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “Be patient with the learning process. One big thing is to not equate uncertainty with inadequacy, which I think I did a lot in the beginning. Early on, there’s a tendency to feel like you need to have all of the answers, but I’ve definitely learned that real growth comes from asking the hard questions and being open to feedback.”
Hannah Matsunaga
Davis Levin Livingston
Undergraduate: Vassar College
Law School: Stanford University
Hannah Matsunaga’s practice focuses on catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice, sexual abuse and civil rights. In her first year at Davis Levin Livingston, she helped try a wrongful death case for a man who died by suicide at Halawa Correctional Facility and a medical malpractice case for a child injured by negligence at Tripler Hospital. Both resulted in record-setting victories.
Hannah began her legal career at a California civil rights law firm, focusing on gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment. Hannah also recently taught trial advocacy skills to students at her alma mater, Stanford Law School.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “My parents are both lawyers and a lawyer is all I’ve ever wanted to be. I grew up thinking this was the coolest job in the world and it’s part of why I went straight through from college to law school.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “Take the leap. I had really set up a life for myself in the Bay Area that I was quite happy with until I had to take a hard look at what I really wanted, and that was to come home.”
Eric Robinson
Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher
Undergraduate: University of North Florida
Law School: UH Mānoa
Eric Robinson focuses his practice on commercial litigation, administrative law, government relations and land use, with particular expertise in Special Management Area (SMA), shoreline and sea level rise matters, including on the North Shore of O‘ahu and in West Maui. Robinson advises clients on land use and development in shoreline and SMA areas, including administrative rules, entitlements and approval processes, seawalls and shore protection structures, environmental review and governmental affairs.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “Before my career in law, I served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps in roles that required making consequential recommendations and decisions. The most formative experience was serving on an administrative separation board that would determine whether a Marine with nearly 20 years of service, who had just been acquitted at court-martial, would lose the ability to retire. Working through burdens, standards and imperfect policies during that process made it clear to me that sound legal judgment matters most where the stakes are highest and the answers aren’t obvious.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “Clarity beats brilliance. Early in practice, it’s easy to focus heavily on being legally right. However, effectiveness depends not just on being legally right, but on how well you can distill complex issues into something decision-makers can actually engage with and understand.”
Lauren K. Onaka
Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher
Undergraduate: Chapman University
Law School: UH Mānoa
Lauren Onaka is Senior Transactional Counsel at the firm, focusing on real estate and commercial transactions. During law school, she was a research assistant in the Scholar Advocate Program, conducting legal research and writing on the Korematsu coram nobis case and proposing a new framework for judicial duties.
Was there an event or moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in law? “My mentor in college asked me what attributes I wanted in a career. I said that it was important to me to have a career that challenges me and allows me to work closely with my co-workers and in a client-facing environment. Most importantly, I wanted to develop skills that would allow me to help solve problems for people. My mentor said that his children were attorneys and what I described sounded like a great fit for practicing law.”
What advice would you have for your first-year associate self? “I would tell myself not to be consumed with trying to achieve perfection, but rather to push myself in the work and to jump into the practice with both feet. It is always important to do good work, but the first year is like drinking from a fire hose. Attacking the work without as much hesitation allows you to grow faster and understand the full picture of what the practice of law really is.”
