William M. "Bill" Kaneko

Katherine Garson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Katherine, who practices law in Hilo, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katherine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Schmitt served as a surface line officer after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in Ocean Engineering. After five years of service as a gunnery/missile officer, ASW officer and Admiral's Aide, he went to law school. Following graduation in 1984, Mr. Schmitt has practiced law with a base in Honolulu concentrating on commercial and construction litigation, admiralty and marine matters. In addition, he simultaneous served over 20 years as a Naval Reseve JAG officer retirin...

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

Sarah M. Love is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Sarah M., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sarah M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kimi M. Ide-Foster is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Kimi M., 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 Kimi M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, Diane’s practice focuses on complex litigation and dispute resolution. Prior to joining the firm in 1978, she was an extern to the Honorable Herbert Choy, Circuit Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Diane is involved in a number of professional and community activities, servicing on the Disciplinary Board of the Hawaii Supreme Court, as a national director of Easter Seals, Inc., as well as a director of Easter Seals Hawaii and ...

Eric S. T. Young is a sole practitioner with 30 years of experience in estate planning, probate and trust law. He is a graduate of Harvard University and the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii. Mr. Young concentrates his practice in estate planning and trust and probate litigation and dispute resolution. Mr. Young has been awarded Best Lawyers in America “Hawaii Lawyer of the Year” seven times - in “Trusts and Estates” (2020, 2023 and 2025) and &...

William Meheula’s practice areas include complex commercial litigation, real estate litigation, legal malpractice, administrative law, divorce cases and Native Hawaiian rights. Mr. Meheula’s real estate litigation practice involves disputes concerning purchase and sale agreements, joint venture agreements, financial agreements, and regarding entitlement, condemnation, environmental, archaeological, and hotel and resort issues. His administrative law practice includes proceedings b...

Robert Katz, Director, has been practicing law in Hawaii for over 40 years. During that time he has counseled and represented Hawaii, Mainland and International based clients in both the private and public sectors in antitrust, business, employment and labor and health care transactions and litigation. Mr. Katz has appeared successfully before Hawaii and federal administrative agencies, arbitrators and Hawaii and federal courts. He has also represented both public and private Hawaii, mainland...

Mr. Engle's practice focuses in the areas of real estate litigation, construction contracts and disputes, and complex business litigation. Examples of Mr. Engle's work include: Constitutional Law. Represented a national REIT in a highly publicized constitutional challenge of legislation affecting the methods for calculating lease rent under long-term industrial ground leases. Successfully obtained ruling declaring statute unconstitutional under the contracts and equal protection clauses of th...