Summer H. Kaiawe

Summer H. Kaiawe is a partner at Watanabe Ing LLP in Honolulu, HI, with a practice focused on land use, environmental law, and intellectual property. Kaiawe handles environmental compliance, regulatory matters, real estate disputes, and related litigation. These matters can require attention to written agreements, legal obligations, and the consequences of decisions made early in the process. The attorney addresses the particular issues involved, from assessing the available information to considering procedural requirements and possible courses of action.

Kaiawe earned a J.D. from the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law in 2011, cum laude, a Master of Accounting in 2008, and a B.B.A. in Accounting in 2007 from the University of Hawaii. The education provides a foundation for legal research, evaluation of evidence, and work involving land use, environmental law, and intellectual property. These are areas in which precise language and an understanding of applicable law can make a material difference.

The matters handled by Kaiawe include land use and environmental issues, intellectual property disputes, and government regulatory questions. These assignments show the range of issues that can arise within the practice and the need to consider each client’s position carefully. Work in this area can include document review, legal research, negotiations, and preparation for proceedings when a dispute cannot be resolved informally. The relevant facts and legal standards guide how each matter is approached.

Summer H. Kaiawe brings particular experience through her combination of accounting and legal training in technical business and regulatory matters. The work calls for close attention to legal obligations and a practical understanding of the outcomes clients are seeking. Kaiawe considers how the applicable law, supporting records, and timing of decisions affect the options available. By concentrating on the specific legal task and its surrounding circumstances, the practice helps clients approach important decisions with a clearer account of the issues involved.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Watanabe Ing LLP
• Member, Hawaii State Bar Association
• Board Member, Federal Bar Association, Hawaii Chapter (2023-Present)
• Chair, Hawaii State Bar Association, Well-Being Committee (2021-2022)
• House of Delegates, Hawaii Delegate, American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division (2020-2021)
• President, Hawaii State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division (2019)
• Director, University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law Alumni Association (2011-2016)
• Member, Hawaii State Bar Association, Nominating Committee (2025-Present)
• Member, Hawaii Federal Court Pro Bono Panel (2018-2025)
• Member, Hawaii Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being (2019-2021)
• Director, Partners in Development Foundation (2022-Present)
• Director, Helping Hands Hawaii (2021-Present)
• Director, Aloha Harvest (2016-2025)

Licensed State

• Hawaii

Education

• University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD) (Cum Laude)
• University of Hawaii, Shidler College of Business
  Master of Accounting
• University of Hawaii, Shidler College of Business
  Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting

Awards & Badges