About Us

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One of the Firm’s greatest strengths is the knowledge and breadth of experience of its staff.  All of our staff members were born and raised on Maui.

▸    Bachelor of Science from Oregon State University (Summa Cum Laude),
Corvallis,  Oregon

▸    Major in Accounting and Business Administration, Minor in Computer Science

▸    Accepted into various honoraries, including Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Gamma Sigma

▸    Juris Doctorate from Lewis and Clark Law School, Portland, Oregon

▸    Member, Environmental Law Review

▸    Member, American Bar Association and the Hawaii State Bar Association

▸    Arbitrator, State of Hawaii Court Annexed Arbitration Program

▸    Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).  ACTEC is a national organization of approximately 2,600 lawyers elected to membership by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence and experience as trust and estate counselors.  Membership is solely by election of the Regents of the College, based upon careful review by state and national membership selection committees.  Currently the only ACTEC Fellow from Maui.

▸    Current Community Affiliations:

▸    Member, Board of Directors, Halau Hula Kauluokala

▸    Notable Published Articles:

▸    “The Admissions Preference—Correcting a Historical Imbalance,” pertaining
to   Kamehameha Schools, published in the Honolulu Star Bulletin

▸    “The Hawaii Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act—Another Tool in
the Estate Planner’s Arsenal,” published in the Hawaii Bar Journal

▸    Chapter entitled “Real Property Issues, Ancillary Administration,” in the
4th Edition of the Hawaii Probate Forms Manual

A Legal Assistant (also known as a “Paralegal”) assists an attorney with various tasks and responsibilities that facilitate the rendering of legal services as efficiently and effectively as possible.  The Firm’s Legal Assistants collectively average more than twenty-seven years of experience, and have extensive experience in drafting trusts, wills and other estate planning documents, probate and trust administration, the preparation of transfer (gift and estate) tax returns, real property deeds, transfer on death deeds, and other related documents.

Our Office Manager oversees all of our Firm’s financial aspects, and also the maintenance and operation of our computer software and network system, and other logistical concerns related to the operation of the Firm.  Our Office Manager also oversees  the production and issuance of our periodic client newsletter.

From time to time, the Firm employs one or more high school or college students who are interested in pursuing a career in law.  Each student participates in an in-house training program to learn about our areas of practice and the operation of the Firm, and works directly under the supervision of Dwight Muraoka.  The goal is to provide each Intern with as much information and “hands-on” experience as possible, to determine if a career in law should be pursued.  To date, the Firm’s Interns have attended colleges including Pepperdine University, the University of San Francisco, Stanford University, Pacific University (Oregon) and Notre Dame College (Ohio).