Monthly Archives: August 2011

I attended Slopes of Diamond Head’s Crazy, Sexy, 10 on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 from 6:00 PM at Oceans.  I saw a lot of friends and people I have worked with over the years.  There were a lot of attorneys there that I have recently worked with or against.

On Monday, August 29, 2011, I attended the Hawaii State Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee hearing   from 12:00 PM in room 016 regarding the consideration and confirmation of Karen Tooko Nakasone as judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit, State of Hawaii.  I submitted testimony in support.  I got to know Karen while attending many community events over the years and recently worked with her on trying to better the process when the court sentences offenders concurrently or consecutively.  She has knowledge and importantly, a good personality that would make her qualified as a judge.

On Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20 in the evenings, I helped with the Jodo Mission of Hawaii Bon Dance as an MC and with clean-up.  On Sunday, August 21 in the morning, we took down the yagura. 

On Sunday, August 21 from 11 AM – 2 PM, I attended Ethan Karamatsu’s 1st Birthday party at the Japanese Cultural Center.  Ethan is my cousin Grant Karamatsu and Christine Ogawa  Karamatsu’s son.

On Thursday, August 25 from 6 PM – 9 PM, I attended Governor Neil Abercrombie’s fundraiser dinner at Hilton Hawaiian Village.  I sat on the Royal Aloha Vacation Club Table.  My friend Owen Iida invited me. He is an attorney with Imanaka Kudo & Fujimoto, and the Royal Aloha Vaction Club is a client of theirs. I saw many friends there, including my inner circle of close friends.

On Friday, August 26 from 6 PM – 10 PM, I attended the Hawaii Professionals Foundation Fundraiser for Boys & Girls Club at Oceans 808 in Restaurant Row.  I sat on the L&L table through my friend Bryan Andaya who is the Vice President & COO of the company.  My friends Ryan Sanada and Jodie (Sawai) Sanada, Dan Chen, and Owen Iida were there.  I saw my friend Spencer and my sister Lara as well.

In this case, the Defendant touched the Complaining Witness’ vagina over her panty in front of an elevator in an apartment building in Waikiki, which was caught on the building’s surveillance video.  I received this case as a special assignment by the Traffic/Misdemeanor Division.  The Public Defender represented the Defendant.  On July 26, 2011, Defense filed a Notice of Alibi and a Motion to Supress Identification.  The case appeared to be heading towards a trial.  I gathered more facts from the complaining witness, and I filed a Response to the Notice of Alibi and Response to the Motion to Supress Identification on August 12, 2011.  At the August 15, 2011 court hearing, Defense withdrew their Motion to Suppress Identification.  At the court hearing on Thursday, August 25, 2011, Defense gave up and pled “no contest” to the charge of Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree.

I won my third bench trial regarding a violation of a stay away order on Wednesday, August 10, 2011.  The  Defendant (represented by private counsel) was on probation for a Harassment conviction.  He violated the stay away order by knocking on complaining witness’ door.

On Thursday, July 7, 2011, I won my first bench trial on a OVUII (Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant) case.  I won my second bench trial on another OVUII case on July 13, 2011.  In both cases, the defendants were represented by private counsel.