Top Attorneys 2026
Hawaii Business Magazine is proud to present Top Attorneys for Business 2026, recognizing the top attorneys making an impact in Hawai‘i’s business community.
Law
Emerging Legal Stars 2026
Meet sixteen attorneys who are redefining excellence early in their careers.
You’re Fired! Trump-Style Termination of Exemplary Hawaiʻi Judge Leaves Questions
Immigration Judge Clarence M. Wagner Jr.’s long federal career cut short by a three-sentence email. “Disappointed” and “hurt,” the self-proclaimed “poster child for public service” still offers advice to improve the immigration court system.
EXCLUSIVE: Q&A With Rep. Justin Woodson After Passage of Bills Protecting DOE Employees from Harassment
Related: Protecting Public Employees From Harassment, With Lessons for the Private Sector, Too Rep. Justin Woodson, chair of the House Committee on Education, spoke by phone on Friday with Hawaii Business Magazine Managing Editor Ken Wills, about two bills passed by the legislature and…
Protecting Public Employees From Harassment, With Lessons for the Private Sector, Too
After nearly a decade-long campaign seeking government protections against threats stemming from workplace duties, employees may finally get state help in obtaining temporary restraining orders and other anti-harassment procedures.
Stuck in a Bad Job in Hawaiʻi? You're Not Alone.
Many Hawaiʻi workplaces are rigid, unwelcoming or downright awful for women and caregivers. Four companies show a better way.
Matson Tops Our Most Profitable List, But Hawaiian Electric Posted Outsized Loss
In our annual Hawaii Business ranking of most profitable companies, Matson took the crown for a fourth year. But the bigger story was the huge loss by Hawaiian Electric, linked to the Maui fires settlement.
Homeownership Can Be One of Many Casualties of a Divorce
Start planning early, because once a divorce decree is issued, it can be too late to arrange necessary financing on the house or save both spouses’ credit scores.
What’s Up with All the Email Disclaimers?
A local attorney says some can be helpful. For instance, a disclaimer can stop a proposal from becoming a legal obligation.
The Reality of Abortion in Hawai‘i
Abortion is legal in the Islands, but access and support fall short. Khara Jabola-Carolus of the State Commission on the Status of Women explains what women really need.
My Job as a Family Mediator Is to Minimize the Fallout of Divorce
“It’s not divorce that’s bad for kids; it’s conflict,” says Katie Bennett.
How a Law Student is Breaking into Venture Capital
Madonna Castro Perez, who grew up on Guam, is rising fast in a male-dominated world.
Politics Can Be Like “a Street Brawl Outside a Bar”
David Louie recalls his time as the state’s top lawyer (2011-14) in the memoir, “From the Desk of the Attorney General.” Here are behind-the-scenes excerpts.
Volunteering on Government Boards Yields Emotional, Intellectual and Professional Rewards
Volunteer to serve on a government board or commission and you will have a say in decisions involving land use, affordable housing, taxes or other important issues.
New State Laws Have Significant Effects on Employers
The rules have changed on nondisclosure agreements, criminal background checks and family leave, while financial penalties for violating some labor regulations have increased as much as 1,000%. By the time the veto deadline for Hawai‘i’s 2020 legislative session arrived on…
My Job: Murder Maven
NAME: Reneau Kennedy JOB: Clinical and forensic psychologist BEGINNINGS: Kennedy was born and raised in rural Idaho. She received her doctorate in psychology from Boston University in 1994. “I did my dissertation on men who murdered and I did two…
Talk Story: Camille Nelson, Dean, UH Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law
Before taking the helm at the Richardson School of Law in August, Nelson was the dean for the law schools at American University in Washington, D.C., and Suffolk University in Boston. Her scholarship includes a focus on race theory and…
Force Majeure – What is it?
The profound economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic shows little sign of easing. As companies throughout Hawai‘i look for ways to reduce the financial impacts of business closures, cancelled events and travel restrictions, it makes perfect sense that a…
COVID-19 Might be an Act of God That Voids Business Contracts
It’s possible that some businesses in Hawai‘i will try to claim that circumstances surrounding COVID-19 absolve them of obligations under a business contract. Whether they have…
New Hope for Struggling Businesses
The federal Small Business Reorganization Act makes bankruptcy a more realistic option for small companies in Hawai‘i The Small Business Reorganization Act has made filing for Chapter 11 protection a lot easier for many businesses. The SBRA was passed by…
Cades Schutte: More than 97 Years of Dedicated Legal Service
Cades Schutte’s association with Merging Visions 2019 confirms that even Hawaii’s largest law firm must look past today to be ready for tomorrow. Supported by more than 97 years of dedicated legal service, Cades Schutte is Hawaii’s largest full-service law…
New State Law Imposes Fines for Fake Service Animals
America loves dogs more than ever. In 2019, with nearly 90 million of man’s best friends living in 55 percent of American households, the retail pet industry expects to fetch $86 billion in sales. Also on the upswing in recent…
Dying is Now A Choice
Hawaii's Medical Aid in Dying law takes effect Jan. 1, but some doctors are among the local professionals who are not ready to deal with the law. Mary, a 78-year-old Hawaii resident, doesn’t look like someone who would want to…
Should You Vote Yes or No on Property Tax Measure?
The state Legislature is asking voters to approve a major restructuring of our tax system The state Legislature is trying to muscle into the counties’ main area of taxation, property taxes, and voters will choose Nov. 6 whether to let…