Keola Whittaker

Christine was born and reared in Japan. She is the President of Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert, and practices in the firm’s Corporate, Commercial, and Real Estate Law practice groups, primarily with Japanese-speaking clients. To address the needs of her Japanese clients, her practice also encompasses Immigration Law, Estate Planning and Employment matters. She is a past Director of Meritas, a worldwide affiliation of commercial law firms, which has members in over 254 global markets. D...

Paul Sato is a seasoned Hawaii litigation attorney who has over 45 years experience. Mr. Sato is Of Counsel to the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Law, Corporate Law and Administrative Law. Mr. Sato has been selected for inclusion to The Best Lawyers in America ® list in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Litigation and Real Estate Law. Mr. Sato is rated AV Preeminent® , Martindale-Hubbell’s® highest rati...

James Blaine Rogers III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Real Estate, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. James Blaine, who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James Blaine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael C. Carroll is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Real Estate and Real Estate Law. Michael C., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jan Sam is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Jan, who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ms. Yoshimoto’s practice focuses on representing both lenders and borrowers in real estate and asset based secured transactions, and representing buyers and sellers in a variety of land transactions including financing, development and sales of residential subdivision, condominium and mixed-use projects, commercial ground and space leasing and real estate due diligence. Speeches and Seminars Moderator, “Commonly Negotiated Commercial Purchase and Sale Provisions”, Hawaii Sta...

Brian T. Hirai joined the firmin 1996 as a member of its business/real estate department. His practice is concentrated primarily in public finance.He has over 40 years of experience as a public finance attorney, serving variously as bond counsel, issuer’s counsel, underwriter’s counsel, borrower’s counsel, trustee’s counsel and credit enhancer’s counsel in a broad range of taxable and tax-exempt bond issues for state and local governmental units, including govern...

Joseph A. Ernst is a Director of the firm and a member of the employment law department. His practice involves counseling and defending employers in all aspects of employment law, including defense of wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, and retaliation claims. He also assists clients with employer compliance with state and federal employment and labor laws. Practice Areas: Labor and Employment, Employment Litigation, Employment Compliance, Labor Relations

Mr. Colombe has practiced exclusively in the area of commercial and real estate litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants since 1984 and practices in both state and federal courts.

Bert T. Kobayashi, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Antitrust Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Construction Law. Bert T., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 1993. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bert T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.