Top Hawaii Lawyers - Client Reviews & Ratings

Erin Rosemary Henschel

75-5870 Walua Road Suite 100, Kailua-Kona, HI

Adoption Business Child Custody +6 +9

3.6/5

3.6

3 Reviews

09 Oct, 2020 by Anonymous

Her efforts covered the ground I needed covered. Timely, complete. She listened and cared. And got it right.

24 Apr, 2020 by Anonymous

Ms. Henschel gave me a free consultation to look over my case and after calling around to other offices, hers was the only one that seemed to care about my circumstances. The retainer was manageable for my budget and Ms. Henschel was very conscious about updating me on the work going into my case. She followed up with me whenever relevant and I had no issues getting in contact with her whenever I had concerns. I would use her service again in a heart beat knowing she really does care

19 Feb, 2020 by Anonymous

Ms. Henschel took a retainer, filed my divorce paperwork incorrectly, did not update me about court documents when they were received by her, demanded more money without an invoice for her work, then ghosted me when I tried to reach out for information and clarification. Do not use her services.

W. Kumu Belcher

Hawaii Business Center, Hilo, HI

Estate Planning +1

3.6/5

3.6

3 Reviews

22 Aug, 2024 by Jean johnson

Indeed I feel you guys

18 Jul, 2024 by Gem c

Short vague to the point but at least they communicate strangely without building rapport that could be a positive thing in hui who you know Hilo town.

02 Jul, 2024 by Ann klaft medicine for dreamers

The experience that I had with both Alcain and Naniole was terrible! They withheld evidence that was presented to them in regards to my being bullied by a property manager and a dirty process server, which resulted in three months of being homeless with no one to help me with the case! The criminals got away with what they did because of these attorneys looking the other way and not being conscientious to their aloha spirits and kuleana! They both violated their bar agreements as well as the law! Withholding pertinent evidence, proof, and defendant’s testimony to cases is against the law. These men should be disbarred!

Emiko Lee Tsuneyoshi Meyers

3144 Elua Street, Lihue, HI

Elder Law Family Law Mediation +1 +4

3.6/5

3.6

3 Reviews

07 Jan, 2020 by Melissa pink gwinner

I called several times and he never returned my call

11 Jan, 2018 by Joyce davy

11 Jan, 2018 by Mike davy

Tyler Stuart Hitch

1888 Kalakaua Ave Suite C312, Honolulu, HI

Immigration +1

3.6/5

3.6

3 Reviews

06 Dec, 2023 by Anonymous

Tyler Hitch is a very compassionate lawyer. He cares about me as a person and treats me like a good friend rather than a client, with a lot of empathy and compassion. He loves to cheer for people's successes and delights in helping families to experience peace, joy and happiness. He is respectful and kind, happy and positive, and very easy to talk to!

22 Oct, 2023 by Zhuqin

Taylor once served as my lawyer. About six years ago, my husband and I sought his expertise during our marriage immigration process. Taylor provided invaluable professional advice, ensuring a seamless transition for me to the United States. When I arrived, Taylor didn't just meet with us; he accompanied me to every interview. Despite the unique challenges of our situation, which led to an initial unsuccessful application, Taylor was quick. He promptly spearheaded a second application and generously covered our associated fees. Throughout the immigration ordeal, he consistently demonstrated professionalism, patience, and thoroughness. He wasn't just a lawyer; he felt like a close friend. Our financial situation could have been better then, leading to times when we struggled with prompt payments. Yet, Taylor never held it against us, continuing to support us with kindness and professionalism. Thanks to his persistent efforts, I was granted my green card. During the green card application process, my husband was detained for drunk driving—a devastating blow, especially since I had just given birth. Though this issue was outside Taylor's professional purview, he extended an offer from his heart: he invited me to stay with his family in Hawaii. I didn't accept, but the depth of his generosity is something I'll never forget. Taylor is a big blessing to our family; his unwavering support helped me find my strength. When I first came to the United States, I had a very tough period due to the language obstacle, but Taylor gave me great encouragement, and now I am a Chinese professor at a university. My husband and I had a second daughter two years ago. Our gratitude for Taylor is boundless; he often graces our conversations with fond memories.

01 Mar, 2023 by Anonymous

As soon as you contact this man he sends you an invoice.. without going over your documentation without understand your case and without building a relationship. This man does not want to meet his clients. He wants to do most of the work on the phone.. sending you money without even few minutes of your time meeting your client? forget you....!!!!! complete waste of time...

Francis R.M.A. Alcain

99 Aupuni St Ste 207, Hilo, HI

Criminal Defense Insurance Personal Injury +3

3.6/5

3.6

3 Reviews

22 Aug, 2024 by Jean johnson

Indeed I feel you guys

18 Jul, 2024 by Gem c

Short vague to the point but at least they communicate strangely without building rapport that could be a positive thing in hui who you know Hilo town.

02 Jul, 2024 by Ann klaft medicine for dreamers

The experience that I had with both Alcain and Naniole was terrible! They withheld evidence that was presented to them in regards to my being bullied by a property manager and a dirty process server, which resulted in three months of being homeless with no one to help me with the case! The criminals got away with what they did because of these attorneys looking the other way and not being conscientious to their aloha spirits and kuleana! They both violated their bar agreements as well as the law! Withholding pertinent evidence, proof, and defendant’s testimony to cases is against the law. These men should be disbarred!

Steven L. Hartley

40 Aulike St, Kailua, HI

Adoption Child Custody Child Support +1 +4

3.2/5

3.2

5 Reviews

17 Jan, 2023 by Linaking9

although they represent my husband in our divorce and I am Pro Se. They seem to be helpful and professional altogether good people.

12 Nov, 2022 by Trevin hofmann

I cannot recommend working with Hartley & McGehee on any legal case. From my experience, they were unresponsive, slow, and expensive. After a $250 consultation on 2022-02-14 regarding divorce, I was left with a positive impression of Hartley & McGehee. On 2022-02-22, I hired Hartley & McGehee as my legal representation in seeking a divorce. My case was primarily handled by Elsa McGehee, Kalani Kim, and Alyssa Le’i. 164 days and $5,441.77* in fees later, I terminated the services of Hartley & McGehee on 2022-08-05. Within this timeframe, the great accomplishments of Hartley & McGehee were limited to (1) filing the Complaint for Divorce and related documents with the court, (2) serving my spouse with the case paperwork, and (3) proposing a Divorce Decree which was ignored by the defendant. After terminating their services, Hartley & McGehee waited until 2022-08-30 to file their motion to withdraw, squandering another 25 days of my case. Not only did they waste more of my time, but Hartley & McGehee continued billing me after terminating their services, sending an invoice which included an additional $714.44* in fees from 2022-08-09 to 2022-08-25. Here are a few other highlights from my experience with Hartley & McGehee: • They provided me with misinformed guidance on the sponsor’s contract of USCIS Form I-864, even after discussing the matter with their immigration law colleague. The key piece of misinformation they provided is that the immigrant’s income (including alimony payments) would not reduce the financial obligations of the contract, and they insisted that their guidance was correct even after I cited multiple legal cases to the contrary. • When refunding the remainder of my deposit / trust account, they mailed the check to an old address in the wrong state despite having been provided with my latest address. • Elsa McGehee admitted plainly in an apology to me on 2022-08-10 that they had “been short-staffed.” • They failed to send me all relevant documents for my case, such as email communications with their immigration law colleague, when I requested them upon terminating their services. I needed to pry further with more specific requests, and I am still not certain if I have everything. • They cautioned against getting a restraining order against my abusive spouse because it “may make our communication with her a bit tricky” and left me to “handle that on [my] own.” In an unrecorded call, they also downplayed the severity of my spouse’s abuse and harassment since it was no longer physical. However, my spouse has continued harassing me with _thousands_ of messages and numerous voicemails using _hundreds_ of spoofed phone numbers to circumvent attempts to block communication. • I requested multiple times that we proceed with advancing the divorce in court in order to have a hearing and a resolution because the defendant was not being responsive to our proposed resolution. These requests were ignored, which was the primary cause for this case being dragged out for so long. • On 2022-03-03, near the beginning of the case, I emailed a list of 16 direct questions regarding the case and how to complete the Income & Expense and Asset & Debt forms. Alyssa Le’i responded only to questions #4 and #12, ignoring the rest. * This is a sum of the subtotals, not including the 4.712% tax or the 10% discount for early payment.

14 Mar, 2022 by Theresa v kamana

Elsa Fay Menor McGehee

40 Aulike St, Kailua, HI

Family Law Personal Injury +2

3.2/5

3.2

5 Reviews

17 Jan, 2023 by Linaking9

although they represent my husband in our divorce and I am Pro Se. They seem to be helpful and professional altogether good people.

12 Nov, 2022 by Trevin hofmann

I cannot recommend working with Hartley & McGehee on any legal case. From my experience, they were unresponsive, slow, and expensive. After a $250 consultation on 2022-02-14 regarding divorce, I was left with a positive impression of Hartley & McGehee. On 2022-02-22, I hired Hartley & McGehee as my legal representation in seeking a divorce. My case was primarily handled by Elsa McGehee, Kalani Kim, and Alyssa Le’i. 164 days and $5,441.77* in fees later, I terminated the services of Hartley & McGehee on 2022-08-05. Within this timeframe, the great accomplishments of Hartley & McGehee were limited to (1) filing the Complaint for Divorce and related documents with the court, (2) serving my spouse with the case paperwork, and (3) proposing a Divorce Decree which was ignored by the defendant. After terminating their services, Hartley & McGehee waited until 2022-08-30 to file their motion to withdraw, squandering another 25 days of my case. Not only did they waste more of my time, but Hartley & McGehee continued billing me after terminating their services, sending an invoice which included an additional $714.44* in fees from 2022-08-09 to 2022-08-25. Here are a few other highlights from my experience with Hartley & McGehee: • They provided me with misinformed guidance on the sponsor’s contract of USCIS Form I-864, even after discussing the matter with their immigration law colleague. The key piece of misinformation they provided is that the immigrant’s income (including alimony payments) would not reduce the financial obligations of the contract, and they insisted that their guidance was correct even after I cited multiple legal cases to the contrary. • When refunding the remainder of my deposit / trust account, they mailed the check to an old address in the wrong state despite having been provided with my latest address. • Elsa McGehee admitted plainly in an apology to me on 2022-08-10 that they had “been short-staffed.” • They failed to send me all relevant documents for my case, such as email communications with their immigration law colleague, when I requested them upon terminating their services. I needed to pry further with more specific requests, and I am still not certain if I have everything. • They cautioned against getting a restraining order against my abusive spouse because it “may make our communication with her a bit tricky” and left me to “handle that on [my] own.” In an unrecorded call, they also downplayed the severity of my spouse’s abuse and harassment since it was no longer physical. However, my spouse has continued harassing me with _thousands_ of messages and numerous voicemails using _hundreds_ of spoofed phone numbers to circumvent attempts to block communication. • I requested multiple times that we proceed with advancing the divorce in court in order to have a hearing and a resolution because the defendant was not being responsive to our proposed resolution. These requests were ignored, which was the primary cause for this case being dragged out for so long. • On 2022-03-03, near the beginning of the case, I emailed a list of 16 direct questions regarding the case and how to complete the Income & Expense and Asset & Debt forms. Alyssa Le’i responded only to questions #4 and #12, ignoring the rest. * This is a sum of the subtotals, not including the 4.712% tax or the 10% discount for early payment.

14 Mar, 2022 by Theresa v kamana

Lawrence D. McCreery

4265 B Halenani St, Lihue, HI

Family Law Probate Real Estate +3

3.0/5

1.0

1 Reviews

5.0

1 Reviews

18 Jul, 2022 by Dennis mcgill

15 Jul, 2015 by Anonymous

does not keep you informed ,does not call clients back, very difficult to get ahold of .

Micky Yamatani

1003 Bishop St, Honolulu, HI

Estate Planning Family Law Litigation +2 +5

3.0/5

3.0

6 Reviews

22 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous

My poor mother is lost in a 20+ year divorce case and lost her court records in a fire. She turned to Micky hoping for some relief and answers. Instead, she demanded she see a divorce decree or recommended that my mother return to her old attorney… if she had listened to my mother or even cared, she would know we need help obtaining copies of court records, that a decree might not exist, and that the previous attorney did not see the case through.

02 Nov, 2020 by David

I had been trying to get divorced for 10 years. I went through five divorce attorneys before Micky. The previous attorneys didn't seem to want to understand my situation and consequently we got nowhere. Micky was different, she listened to me, she asked questions, she studied my financial details and she came up with a solution that allowed me to get divorced without going to trial. I am forever indebted to Micky for getting me my divorce.

09 Nov, 2017 by Scott

I've known Miss Yamatani both personally and professionally for 20 years. Micky is extremely hard working person who sincerely cares for the well being of her clients. After being let down numerous times by numerous lawyers I started to believe the stereotype of, "no such thing as an honest lawyer". However, Micky's persistent example of professional integrity was a breath of fresh air. She is an expert at her craft!

Johnny Ray Brown

1498 Lower Main St Ste F, Wailuku, HI

Litigation Personal Injury +2

3.0/5

3.0

2 Reviews

17 Apr, 2021 by Anonymous

You have 2 years to recover in Hawaii. I was injured on vacation in Hawaii and Johnny Brown was the first one to call me back in fact in the middle of the night. He had me do all the paperwork getting doctor medical records etc. and he said I had a great case with his expert testimony (which I never saw) and then dragged out the time on it. When I questioned him, he said he was saving me money not to file a lawsuit right away and settle instead. All the while saying he was going to file a lawsuit and then in the last moment sends me a cold email and pulls out. So who's going to take a case in the last months and he ruined the case. He wasted all of my time and now I am still injured with no recovery and still seeing the doctors for treatment of a permanent injury. Then he has the nerve to tell me in the same email to hurry up and get another lawyer. What a nerve! He is NOT A FIGHTER and is out for himself. WATCH OUT and don't jump out for him! I would give him a minus -10 if available!!

06 Jun, 2019 by Ikaika

I got in one wreck last year and my hanai madda wen introduce me to this guy - Johnny . He really wen hammah those insurance buggas. He sent me to see his doctors he get in Honolulu and thru out the whole process I was treated wit aloha. Get in one wreck? let da hammah take care fo you

Collin M. Fritz

820 Mililani Street, Honolulu, HI

Car Accident Medical Malpractice Personal Injury +1 +4

3.0/5

3.0

2 Reviews

01 Mar, 2022 by Liz rouse

Not very helpful. Interrupted me many times when i tried to speak and spoke over me

07 Nov, 2017 by Private private

Melodie R Williams Aduja

Po Box 775, Kaneohe, HI

Foreclosure +1

3.0/5

3.0

2 Reviews

16 Sep, 2014 by Michael

In my case, the law, as written in the law books are being by passed by judges as they are pro banks. Melodie has her hands full in situations such as mine. She has found the proof that shows the Judges are in direct violation of the Law, and imposing their own interpretations of the laws, which are violating people's rights, and stripping them of their properties. Yet Melodie is there, fighting against all odds . . .

15 Dec, 2013 by Anonymous

A company had referred us to her because she had worked with them in similar cases before. I don't recommend her only because she did not give us clear answers and we ended up paying her for more services because she would say we would have this option and that option if this appeal failed. She had left us in the dark--didn't notify us of hearings or court notices. We had tried calling her to get verification and information on how the case was going and received vague answers. Because we weren't familiar with the legal jargon and processes we had a very hands-off approach and would call to check on the progress. While we received the referral late in the case, it would have been nice to be kept updated instead of being told that things were filed or processed against us that we were unaware of. We didn't receive notices in mail or email and so we thought things were going well. After some time we'd call in with whether we'd be able to do something and she'd return saying that wouldn't be possible because this was filed against you. She went on to say this was filed at this date, but she had not notified of this. We felt like there was a lot of pertinent information necessary to our daily lives that we were not made aware of. She would have been able to solve our problems if she had done her due diligence and gotten her paperwork ready prior to speaking in court. We found later that her defense used paperwork she didn't have and so instead, our case became a long drawn out process with more money having to be paid out.

Alyssa Rei Segawa

820 Mililani St Ste 505, Honolulu, HI

Personal Injury +1

3.0/5

3.0

2 Reviews

01 Mar, 2022 by Liz rouse

Not very helpful. Interrupted me many times when i tried to speak and spoke over me

07 Nov, 2017 by Private private

Allen K. Williams

820 Mililani St, Honolulu, HI

+0

3.0/5

3.0

2 Reviews

01 Mar, 2022 by Liz rouse

Not very helpful. Interrupted me many times when i tried to speak and spoke over me

07 Nov, 2017 by Private private

M. Tyler Pottenger

841 Bishop St, Honolulu, HI

Business Estate Planning Insurance +3

3.0/5

3.0

2 Reviews

24 Jan, 2024 by Anonymous

I am very disappointed with this man, only interested of what he is going to get from the case. Not sincere, not even interested unless $$$$ Question he asked, , do you have life insurance? And then at the end of the visit , will you give me a hug .

22 Jan, 2016 by Jan

One of a kind! In addition to being an expert in his field, he is honest, kind, patient and understanding. His rates are more than fair, and he is always more than willing and able to go beyond the call of duty. He has been my lawyer and trusted friend for more than 15 years.

Eric Gregory Ferrer

2200 Main St Ste 521, Wailuku, HI

Civil Rights Class Action Personal Injury +1 +4

3.0/5

3.0

1 Reviews

10 Feb, 2021 by Anonymous

was able continue on this issue; letter seni to state; and forward email to an acting attorney;claim was sent down from state farm head office amount is at 1500; vks

Daniel Chen

Pacific Guardian Center, Mauka Tower 737 Bishop Street, Suite 2400, Honolulu, HI

+0

3.0/5

3.0

2 Reviews

09 Sep, 2020 by Bradley t.

I trust Mr. Chen with all my legal problems. I have referred at least two friends to him and he has been extremely helpful. He is a professional and will always go the extra mile to keep you safe. What I really appreciate from Mr. Chen especially in this day and age is that he will get the job done without any reminders. It's simple peace of mind. When I have a problem, I know he'll take care of it. Mr. Chen helped me out by resolving a dispute that I had, but more than that he has helped me with a variety of different legal issues. He is always available by phone and email and is very responsive. He's proactive and let's me know when problems arise or when something needs to be done. I can not stress how big of a help he has been to my family. I appreciate his help and advice. If you are wondering how to navigate your own legal issues I would give Mr. Chen a call. He is one of the few people I really trust.

03 Jun, 2020 by Elsa n.

I called his office numerous times and left messages. Not sure if it's due to Corvid19, however he should at least call back

Gordon W Stewart

2200 Main St Ste 522, Wailuku, HI

Business Car Accident Estate Planning +5 +8

3.0/5

3.0

2 Reviews

12 Jul, 2023 by Maynard raquinio

12 Oct, 2016 by Alex embernate

Craig M. Sadamoto

614 Kilauea Ave, Hilo, HI

Civil Rights +1

2.9/5

1.0

1 Reviews

4.9

54 Reviews

14 Jan, 2024 by Terry crichton

There are no words in all of the world's languages that would do justice in explaining just how much of an amazing person Christine is. We needed help with some legal documents and were feeling quite overwhelmed and anxious as we had never needed to have those forms done before. Christine was able to help us with not only getting those documents completed expeditiously, but her patience, understanding, professionalism, and genuine concern for our situation, we truly are grateful and wholeheartedly appreciate Christine. We can't thank her enough for her work, time, and empathy. We will definitely be recommending her and her services to anyone seeking services like ours.

28 Dec, 2023 by Kat ahin

Christine is very professional and she was willing to help me in a pinch. Her care and concern for my situation made working with Christine easy and stress free. She was able to help me complete important documents with her knowledge and expertise! I recommend working with Christine! 👍🏽

05 Oct, 2023 by Patrick easterling

The Google map has the years old address, it's across Kilauea from Island Naturals now.

Edward J Smith

758 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI

Adoption Child Custody Family Law +3

2.9/5

3.0

8 Reviews

2.9

43 Reviews

06 Sep, 2024 by Emily belloso

01 Aug, 2024 by Joseph

I can’t thank Edward Smith enough for his incredible support during a very challenging time. When I needed him most, he showed up during my civil TRO hearing and knew exactly what to say to ensure I didn’t sabotage my own case. His professionalism and ability to navigate the legal world with ease were truly impressive. Edward Smith fought tirelessly against my wife’s demands, which were more than I could afford, and he wouldn’t settle for anything less than fair. His dedication and expertise made all the difference in my case. If you’re looking for a lawyer who will stand by you and fight for your best interests, look no further than Edward Smith. Highly recommended!

09 Jul, 2024 by Christian brown

I've had an absolutely terrible experience. He took a 5.5k retainer, my case was moved to Canadian Courts, and now he's failing to respond, not returning the retainer, and appears to be attempting to steal my money. These actions have been preventing me from acquiring the appropriate legal representation. I strongly advise staying away from this law firm. UPDATE: He ended up padding the bill when asked for a refund of the retainer. Charged me for text messages and emails that he never responded to including messages listed below were I requested my funds be returned. "You are negatively impacting my ability to secure legal counsel and leaving me with no other options but to explore pursuing a civil case against your firm. If my money isn't returned this week, I'll be pursuing a civil case as well as filing a complaint with the Hawaii State Bar Association. This is absolutely ridiculous." CHARGED me $55. "Are you planning on returning the funds at all? It's very concerning that my requests have gone unanswered." NO RESPONSE and CHARGED another $55. "Good morning, We secured a lawyer in Ontario to handle the extradition/child custody. Would it be possible to return the remainder of the retainer? If the case ends up coming to Hawaii, we can send resend a retainer. Funds are just tight at the moment." NO RESPONSE and CHARGED another $55. "Hello, Are you able to help me formulate the response to the OCL report? This is my draft so far. OCL Response .docx" NO RESPONSE and CHARGED another $55. I think everyone can see the trend. I strongly advise looking elsewhere for a lawyer.

Michael Belmont Murray

758 Kapahulu Ave Suite 100-847, Honolulu, HI

Business Government Tax +3

2.9/5

2.9

43 Reviews

06 Sep, 2024 by Emily belloso

09 Jul, 2024 by Christian brown

I've had an absolutely terrible experience. He took a 5.5k retainer, my case was moved to Canadian Courts, and now he's failing to respond, not returning the retainer, and appears to be attempting to steal my money. These actions have been preventing me from acquiring the appropriate legal representation. I strongly advise staying away from this law firm. UPDATE: He ended up padding the bill when asked for a refund of the retainer. Charged me for text messages and emails that he never responded to including messages listed below were I requested my funds be returned. "You are negatively impacting my ability to secure legal counsel and leaving me with no other options but to explore pursuing a civil case against your firm. If my money isn't returned this week, I'll be pursuing a civil case as well as filing a complaint with the Hawaii State Bar Association. This is absolutely ridiculous." CHARGED me $55. "Are you planning on returning the funds at all? It's very concerning that my requests have gone unanswered." NO RESPONSE and CHARGED another $55. "Good morning, We secured a lawyer in Ontario to handle the extradition/child custody. Would it be possible to return the remainder of the retainer? If the case ends up coming to Hawaii, we can send resend a retainer. Funds are just tight at the moment." NO RESPONSE and CHARGED another $55. "Hello, Are you able to help me formulate the response to the OCL report? This is my draft so far. OCL Response .docx" NO RESPONSE and CHARGED another $55. I think everyone can see the trend. I strongly advise looking elsewhere for a lawyer.

15 Jun, 2024 by Robert richardson

Ed charges 5k and doesn’t do his work for you , he doesn’t return your calls , he doesn’t follow up on emails , he doesn’t answer your email. He says he will meet you and don’t show up or even call . He is the worse I’ve hear of , warning he will take you for your hard working money , and then send you a bill that is made up of things he didn’t do.

Jerome Alan Tabar

758 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI

Appeals Litigation Real Estate +3

2.9/5

2.9

43 Reviews

06 Sep, 2024 by Emily belloso

09 Jul, 2024 by Christian brown

I've had an absolutely terrible experience. He took a 5.5k retainer, my case was moved to Canadian Courts, and now he's failing to respond, not returning the retainer, and appears to be attempting to steal my money. These actions have been preventing me from acquiring the appropriate legal representation. I strongly advise staying away from this law firm. UPDATE: He ended up padding the bill when asked for a refund of the retainer. Charged me for text messages and emails that he never responded to including messages listed below were I requested my funds be returned. "You are negatively impacting my ability to secure legal counsel and leaving me with no other options but to explore pursuing a civil case against your firm. If my money isn't returned this week, I'll be pursuing a civil case as well as filing a complaint with the Hawaii State Bar Association. This is absolutely ridiculous." CHARGED me $55. "Are you planning on returning the funds at all? It's very concerning that my requests have gone unanswered." NO RESPONSE and CHARGED another $55. "Good morning, We secured a lawyer in Ontario to handle the extradition/child custody. Would it be possible to return the remainder of the retainer? If the case ends up coming to Hawaii, we can send resend a retainer. Funds are just tight at the moment." NO RESPONSE and CHARGED another $55. "Hello, Are you able to help me formulate the response to the OCL report? This is my draft so far. OCL Response .docx" NO RESPONSE and CHARGED another $55. I think everyone can see the trend. I strongly advise looking elsewhere for a lawyer.

15 Jun, 2024 by Robert richardson

Ed charges 5k and doesn’t do his work for you , he doesn’t return your calls , he doesn’t follow up on emails , he doesn’t answer your email. He says he will meet you and don’t show up or even call . He is the worse I’ve hear of , warning he will take you for your hard working money , and then send you a bill that is made up of things he didn’t do.

Nelson W.S. Goo

Po Box 17369, Honolulu, HI

Criminal Defense +1

2.6/5

2.6

5 Reviews

24 Aug, 2022 by Kenneth mcclintock

Calling Nelson goo a sleazy attorney would feed his ego as he takes pride in bottom feeding. I am saddled with indefinite conditional release from the state hospital and goo has neglected me since he took over as court appointed attorney in December of 2019. He hasn't cfalled me on the phone since October of 2020. He is paid a flat rate by the court to defend me and he doesn't do anything to so that his pay check will continue. I filed a complaint against him with the office of disciplinary council and after a 14 month investigation the findings were ruled confidental. The motion filled by the public defender in 2013 that got me in this mess wasn't stamped by the criminal justice division of the attorney Generals office meaning the pd didn't have permission to fill the motion and goo told the judge that the matter was frivolous. At the last hearing the judge refused to give me a new attorney

26 Oct, 2015 by Anonymous

I believe he did the best thing he could've done to every single case he has done. Now sometimes things don't go the way you want it to be, and that's just how it will go. My case can be good as yours, and it's great for my case btw. BUT, do not get your hopes up if your actions put you somewhere in deep sh*t. If you have a sh*tty history that doesn't help your case whatsoever then, don't expect ANY ATTORNEYS to do a better job. I didn't expect anything out of him, but by giving him the information he needed, we won. In most of it since I was on probation, but that's better than jail time, honestly.

02 Aug, 2015 by Vicki

"I had read the reviews after I hired Nelson Goo, but I had to go on my gut instinct. I felt he led me in the most positive way to win my cases. I had regular email contact with him, and I found all the information he requested, and he delivered it in a very professional manner. I trusted him, and I am thankful that I did. I had an assault case in family court dropped by the prosecutor before it ever went to trail, and I had my TRO dismissed by the plaintive before we even had to defend the case, because he played the cases moment by moment, listening to me when I gave suggestions, and looked for the weaknesses in the cases. He was prepared and clam, when I was nervous and scared. I am a very happy that I trusted him. I hope this response helps whoever reads this knowing that not all people who win, write their responses, it is usually the ones who are frustrated and upset. Not all cases can be won just because you want them to be won, it takes evidence and it takes knowing how to present the evidence. I felt Nelson listened to me, and helped direct me in the best possible way I could go to beat these cases. I had listened to two other lawyers before I picked Nelson, and you should do the same thing before you choose a lawyer. Let them spell out what they think they can do for you, before you make a choice. Nelson told me he could get the case dropped, and he did it. He told me what I wanted to hear, but he explained why he thought he could win. Then I got him all the evidence he needed, I helped him, i didn't depend on him to get the evidence. I took part in my case. I got the phone records, I took the voice messages and put them on CD's, and I took the photos to the Costco and had them enlarged. Nelson told me what I needed to do, and I did it. I didn't sit back and expect him to do all the work and then wonder why I lost the case when I was paying him. I paid him for his experience in the court room, and then I worked on my case just as hard as he did. I needed a voice of reason and he seemed to understand the courts and how they were going to respond. I am posting this to let others know that he does do good work."

Casey Michelle Hutnick

4442 Hardy St Ste 206, Lihue, HI

Criminal Defense Family Law +2

2.5/5

2.5

2 Reviews

16 Feb, 2023 by Kauai tai chi

Unprepared and disinterested. Emiko Meyers could just as well be working the checkout counter at a big box store given her lack of engagement with the issues in a timely manner and her lack of interest in her clients. Emiko Meyers wasted 6+ hours of billable time by being completely unprepared to discuss issues during a scheduled mediation with the opposing party. Emiko Meyers hadn’t even bothered to read the opposing party’s declaration prior to the mediation because she was too absorbed in her chaotic personal life and said that she felt “overwhelmed”. As a result she was completely uninformed of the opposing party’s position on the issues and unable to engage in meaningful negotiations. As additional deadlines approached, rather than meeting them in a timely and professionally manner, Emiko Meyers continued to offer excuses related to distractions in her personal life. Her chaotic personal life was obviously a priority over her clients and her professional obligations to uphold her service pledge. As her final insult, when the case was complete, Emiko Meyers omitted from her written draft order a material term of the stipulation that had already been read into the court record and which would have had significant negative consequences for me if I had not caught the omission in my review. Prior to my direct experience with Emiko, I had heard that she was pretty good; however upon working with her in real time I understand now that there are numerous reasons why her average review rating is only 2 stars.

06 Sep, 2019 by Melissa pink gwinner

Pamela B. Shults

Po Box 682, Wailuku, HI

Appeals Family Law Government +3

2.3/5

2.3

3 Reviews

06 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous

She did not have the skill or the will to make a good faith effort to work on my case. Her strategy had more to do with using up her retainer as quickly as possible rather than properly representing her client. When I asked for an explanation for some of the particulars of my bill, she sent me a written explanation, and billed me for that as well. The only thing that she was consistently on top of, was making sure that her retainer was replenished promptly. She did not disclose conflicts of interest, that I later learned about on my own. She was rude and insulting, even alienating the judge who was hearing the case. Her advice was bad. I am convinced that having no lawyer at all would have ended up with a more positive outcome than she could achieve. It was a disaster. Lawyers I have since consulted have said that she "botched the case". I can only hope that she reaps the karma she deserves for her unmitigated greed and her total lack of compassion for her client.

19 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous

Pamela is a good and straight forward attorney and has helped me through 2 cases and she will listen to you and gets done what's needs to get done. She is always on top of everything and represents me in court in such a professional matter. I would recommend anyone with child custody cases to get on her to represent you. Awesome attorney!

18 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous

I hired this person to help with my divorce. She consistently overcharged, was unavailable for weeks at a time (vacationing in Turkey, etc.), was extremely sarcastic, unprofessional and personally insulting to me at a time when I was very vulnerable. If I could give a zero review I would.

Sara Lee Silverman

4480 Ahukini Rd Ste 202, Lihue, HI

Criminal Defense Family Law +2

2.3/5

2.3

3 Reviews

18 Jan, 2021 by R m

No answer left msg 5 days ago no return call ... how's that for common courtesy ? 😎 👎👎👎

17 May, 2019 by Ivomonroemiller

Everything she did was Disengenuious..She’s as Mean as she is UGLY and FAT. I feel sorry for you

16 Feb, 2018 by Annie barnes

Benjamin R.C. Ignacio

1130 N Nimitz Hwy, Honolulu, HI

Criminal Defense Personal Injury +2

2.3/5

2.3

3 Reviews

22 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous

Mr. Ignacio was the best attorney I could have purchased for the petitioner in my case. Not only was he an hour late for my court date, he never replied to my emails or consulted with me prior to my court date. He essentially was my accusers attorney and made it impossible for me to seek recourse. He told me after my case was finalized to move back to Europe. My accuser thanked Mr. Ignacio, shaked his hand and patted him on his back. I was 100% misrepresented by Mr. Ignacio and was charged $2500.00 an hour to be stabbed in the back. Mr. Ignacio should have shot me in the head.

26 Oct, 2015 by William

Mr. Ignacio represented myself vs Hawaii back in August 2015 for harassment. The demeanor in the court room towards Mr. Ignacio was nothing but respect and he seemed highly liked in the court room. Very pleased with the outcome and it could of been a lot worse. *HIGHLY RECOMMENDED* if you are a service member. He looks out for us.

06 Aug, 2015 by Joyce

I am disgusted with how you "defended" my mom. I took at look at her papers and you didn't explain half of what was on there to her. This shouldn't have made it to this point if you even asked my mom what happened from her point of view. You clearly don't care about your clients. You need to rethink your ethics and career choice. An attorney is supposed to bring out the truth. You didn't.

Jay T. Suemori

841 Bishop St, Honolulu, HI

Foreclosure Real Estate +2

2.0/5

2.0

1 Reviews

09 Apr, 2014 by Anonymous

Mr Suemori represented my daughter in a June 2007 illegal eviction case. Mr Suemori sought $125,000 in damages, but after paying him $25,000 in August 2012 he settled for $5,000. We asked an attorney to review the docket sheet and discovered Mr. Suemori had done little-no formal discovery and taken no depositions. He never gave us a timeline estimate of completion or cost estimate as promised. His firm repeatedly requested documents of my daughter that she already provided. He was often responsiveness and was not good about updating us on his proceeding during the 5 year case. We have yet to see any sincere effort on his part to rectify this situation.

Kathleen K. Lucero

80 Pauahi St., Hilo, HI

Civil Rights Personal Injury +2

1.8/5

1.8

5 Reviews

12 Sep, 2024 by Anonymous

Finest Law Firm in Hilo, when the other firms will only look for headline cases to enrich themselves and their egos. The Law Offices of Kathleen Kentish Lucero, Mrs Kentish Lucero, Mrs Sha, Mrs Correa will look out for you.

18 Nov, 2017 by Anonymous

I called to see if Ms. Lucero would be able to help me with my legal questions / situation. Spoke with her once which she said she could help me. I dropped off my documents and she did not call to schedule an appointment. My only contact was with her assistant. Her assistant said she would start the process and have Ms. Lucero contact me. Which she never did. Till today I have had no contact or follow up from anyone at this office. This office did not even start the consultation or anything. Why say you can help if you can't or have no time for me. Sadly, people are in need of legal help and look for a professional in the field for help. This attorney is not the person.

21 Jan, 2017 by Anonymous

Did not get anything I asked for in my divorce case. I wanted primary physical custody and was told to settle for joint but with stipulations. Instead of the original amout of $1000+ in child support, she got me 900. I was always the last to know about when my court dates were (sometimes only notified a day in advance and thats only because I randomly called to check on another issue and then was told, "see you tmrw in court" ..!?!?!?) She also got irritated with me because I didn't show up to a court dat that I was never informed about! How can I appear when I don't know I'm supposed to!? I feel like she did NOTHING for me, just got me to agree to all of my ex's demands. NOT RECOMMENDED AT ALL.

Wayne H. Mukaida Esq.

PO Box 11862, Honolulu, HI

Litigation Workers Compensation +2

1.0/5

1.0

2 Reviews

30 Sep, 2020 by Anonymous

He is taking the money and then disappear never answer your calls and never go to work . Love your love one and don’t fall in his trap! People can fall to depression because of him. He is not working for 2 years he didn’t pick up the phone ! Terrible ! Now I have only one month to find new lawyer he is terrible !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

06 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous

Mr, Mukaida did not return phone calls, from us or the workers comp company. He failed to answer a letter requesting a second opinion causing the Department of Labor to get involved. When asked about it he said that he thought he sent a letter, three weeks and several messages later he was able to be reached by phone and would not explain why he just stopped contact and work on the case.

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