Articles & Publications

Summer/Fall 2023 Legal Alert

Thursday January 4th, 2024
Here’s the latest Summer/Fall 2023 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on Damon Key Marks 60th Anniversary with Continuing Tradition of Community Service, Matthew T. Evans Elected to Prestigious Meritas Board of Directors, New Hawaii Laws Impacting Business and Property Owners, Navigating Insurance Recovery After A Natural Disaster, 2023 Damon Key Ohana Picnic and more…

Spring/Summer 2023 Legal Alert

Wednesday August 23rd, 2023
Here’s the latest Spring/Summer 2023 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on Christine A. Kubota elected President of Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert, Do Androids Paint Electric Sheep? Copyright Issues and AI-Generated Art, Mark M. Murakami Elected Vice President of the Hawaii State Bar Association, What You Should Know Before You Enter Into A Commercial Lease and more…

Special Tribute to Denis C.H. Leong Legal Alert

Friday July 21st, 2023

Fall/Winter 2022 Legal Alert

Tuesday February 21st, 2023
Here’s the latest Fall/Winter 2022 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on Legal Update for Investors Seeking U.S. Permanent Residency, Attorney Christopher H. Pang Brings Banking Experience and Impressive Language Skills to the Firm, Crooked Trustees: Bankruptcy May Not be a Safe Harbor for Those Who Misuse Trust Funds, Non-Profit Background Serves as Foundation for Attorney David H. Abitbol, Island Ties Draws Attorney Jonathan Niichi Marchuk to Damon Key and more…

Summer/Fall 2022 Legal Alert

Wednesday December 28th, 2022
Here’s the latest Summer/Fall 2022 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on 30-Day Short-Term Rentals, Insurance-Related COVID-19 Issues: Where We Are, Where We Are Going, Protecting your Intellectual Property Online Starts with Warning, Estate Planning for Intellectual Property and more…

Spring/Summer 2022 Legal Alert

Monday September 12th, 2022
Here’s the latest Spring/Summer 2022 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on Captain Mark Murakami’s Retirement From the U.S. Coast Guard After 30 Years of Distinguished Service, Local Expertise With Worldwide Reach, Leveraging Damon Key’s Membership in Meritas, R. Charles Bocken, A Celebration of Life, 2022 Legislative Update for Condominium and Community Associations, Christine Kubota Helps Mark the Milestone, Entering the United States to Direct and Develop a Business as a Foreign National: How Hard Can It Be?

Legal Alert (Winter/Spring 2022) Mark Murakami Elected As Hawaii Member of Owner’s Counsel, Navigating the Probate Process from Overseas, Clint Hamada Brings Dedication & Intensity, Non-Compete Agreements Must Be For More Than Preventing Competition, Love of Reading Propels Toren Yamamoto into Law, Faster Might Not Be Better

Wednesday May 11th, 2022
Here’s the latest Winter/Spring 2022 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on Mark Murakami Elected As Hawaii Member of Owner’s Counsel, Navigating the Probate Process from Overseas, Clint Hamada Brings Dedication & Intensity, Non-Compete Agreements Must Be for More Than Preventing Competition, Love of Reading Propels Toren Yamamoto into Law, Faster Might Not Be Better and Attorneys in the News.

Legal Alert (Fall/Winter 2021) Gut and Replaced or Why Reading This Title is not Reading This Article, 2022 Lawyer of the Year & The Best Lawyers in America, What are Reverse Mortgages, Covid-19, Act 57, and Mediation, Again

Monday January 24th, 2022
Here’s the latest Fall/Winter 2021 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on Gut and Replaced or Why Reading This Title is not Reading This Article, 2022 Lawyer of the Year & The Best Lawyers in America, What are Reverse Mortgages, Covid-19, Act 57, and Mediation, Again, New Attorneys Amber Yonamine and Max Kimura join the Firm and Attorneys in the News.

Legal Alert (Summer/Fall 2021 Moratorium, Mediation, Meditation: Renting in the Time of Covid, 2021 Legislative Update for Condominium & Community Associations, Senate Bill No. 385 The Uniform Trust Code, What Does it Mean?, 2021 Legislative Update, Attorneys in the News

Wednesday October 27th, 2021
Here’s the latest Summer/Fall 2021 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on Renting in the Time of Covid, 2021 Legislative Update for Condominium & Community Associations, Senate Bill No. 385 Unform Trust Code What Does it Mean?, 2021 Legislative Update and more…

Legal Alert (Spring/Summer 2021 Workplace COVID-19 Vaccination, Damon Key’s 1979 Supreme Court Win Still Making Waves, Hawaii Legislators Used “Gut and Replace” to Increase Conveyance Taxes, With Little Practical Effect

Monday July 12th, 2021
Here’s the latest Spring/Summer 2021 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on Workplace COVID-19 Vaccination, Damon Key’s 1979 Supreme Court Win Still Making Waves, Hawaii Legislators Used “Gut and Replace” to Increase Conveyance Taxes, With Little Practical Effect and more…

Legal Alert (Winter/Spring 2021) Construction 2021, Twenty-Five Years Since PASH: A Look Back, Estate Planning Under President Biden’s Proposed Tax Plan, Immigrants In Hawaii, Is My Seawall Legal?

Thursday April 29th, 2021
Here’s the latest Winter/Spring 2021 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on Construction 2021, Twenty-Five Years Since PASH: A Look Back, Estate Planning Under President’s Biden’s Proposed Tax Plan and more...

Legal Alert (Fall/Winter 2020) Damon Key’s Enduring Commitment to Community Service & Charitable Legal Work, Nicholas Joins the Firm, 2021 Lawyers of the Year and Best Lawyers, They Are Not “Pets”, Cheyne Joins the Firm, Do Schools have the Authority to Address Off-Campus Speech

Saturday February 20th, 2021
Here’s the latest Fall/Winter 2020 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on 2021 Lawyers of the Year and Best Lawyers, They Are Not “Pets”, Do Schools have the Authority to Address Off-Campus Speech and more...

Legal Alert Update

Wednesday December 9th, 2020
Hawaii Department of Taxation Pursuing Aggressive Enforcement of Potential Transient Accommodation and General Excise Tax Violations…

Legal Alert (Summer/Fall 2020) – Aloha Charlie Bocken, The Hawaii Supreme Court on Nonjudicial Foreclosure by Condo Associations, 2020 Legislative Update, Mask Up and Spam Up, Damon Key’s Joanna Zeigler argues important Hawaii Supreme Court Case

Tuesday December 8th, 2020
Here’s the latest Summer/Fall 2020 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on Aloha to Charlie Bocken, 2020 Legislative Update, Mask Up and Spam Up and more...

Legal Alert (Spring/Summer 2020) – Special Edition: Coronavirus 2020, Force Majeure, Estate Planning & Personal Preparedness, Immigration, Tax Relief, Insurance, Semper Paratus or Semper Gumby? and more

Thursday June 18th, 2020
Here’s the latest Spring/Summer 2020 Special Edition of our quarterly Legal Alert devoted to addressing some of the more frequently-asked legal questions arising out of the pandemic.

The Tale of Two Towers: Damon Key Wins Important Hawaii Supreme Court Land Use Case

Thursday March 26th, 2020
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” is how Damon Key attorney Greg Kugle started off his winning oral argument before the Hawaii Supreme Court. While the quote was from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, this case is the tale of two towers. Two new Ritz Carlton towers on Kuhio Avenue in Waikiki to be precise.

Legal Alert (Winter/Spring 2020) – Congratulations New Director Na Lan, The Tale of Two Towers: Damon Key Wins Important Hawaii Supreme Court Land Use Case, Damon Key Earns Meritas Recertification and more

Thursday March 26th, 2020
Here’s the latest Winter/Spring 2020 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on Na Lan our New Director, The Tale of Two Towers: Damon Key Wins Important Hawaii Supreme Court Land Use Case, Damon Key earns Meritas Recertification and more...

Legal Alert (Fall/Winter 2019) – Alumnus of the Year, Welcome Casey Miyashiro, the Importance of Operating Agreements, and more

Tuesday January 7th, 2020
Here’s the latest Fall/Winter 2019 edition of the Legal Alert, with stories on Mark Murakami‘s recent honor as the U.H. Law School Alumnus of the Year, an introduction to the firm’s newest lawyer Casey Miyashiro, The Importance of Operating Agreements by Adam Miller, and more...

Legal Alert (Summer/Fall 2019) – Nuisance Trees, the Frank Damon Room, Welcome Adam Miller, Legislative Update and more

Wednesday October 23rd, 2019
Here's the latest Legal Alert (Summer-Fall 2019), with stories on nuisance trees, the new Frank Damon Room at UH Law, the SECURE Act, "Red Flag" Law, Legislative Update, welcome to Adam Miller, and more.

Legal Alert – Breaking News

Tuesday October 15th, 2019
Damon Key Secures Landmark Hawaii Supreme Court Insurance Law Victory Download the Legal Alert Breaking News

Legal Alert (Spring/Summer 2019) Henry Shigekane, Christine Kubota Honored by JCCH, Housing Affordability Newly Passed Bill Rewrites Zoning Codes, Worker’s Injury Discrimination, Audited by the IRS, Insurance Companies and Climate Change

Tuesday August 6th, 2019
Here’s the Spring/Summer 2019 edition of the Legal Alert with stories on our Co-Founder Henry Shigekane, Christine Kubota honored by JCCH, Newly Passed Bill Rewrites Zoning Codes, New Hawaii Supreme Court Decision on Worker’s Injury Discrimination, What are the chances of being audited by the IRS and Insurance Companies and Climate Change and more...

Damon Key Legal Alert Update 2019

Friday June 28th, 2019
Changes Ahead For Property Owners: After More Than 30 Years, Supreme Court Reopens Federal Courthouse Door To Property Rights Claims Download the Legal Alert Update

Legal Alert (Winter/Spring 2019) Congratulations Madeleine!

Tuesday April 30th, 2019
Here’s the Winter/Spring 2019 edition of the Legal Alert with stories on our new Director Madeleine Young, 2019 Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, Notice of…

Legal Alert (Fall/Winter 2018) Welcome to the Firm!

Saturday January 19th, 2019
Here’s the Fall/Winter 2018 edition of the Legal Alert with stories on State and County Government Records, Transient Accommodations, Collection & Foreclosure 101 for New Directors or Property Managers,…

Legal Alert (Summer/Fall 2018) The Mechanics of Mechanic’s Liens in Hawaii

Saturday November 24th, 2018
Here’s the Summer/Fall 2018 edition of the Legal Alert. With stories on The Mechanics of Mechanic’s Liens in Hawaii, Honolulu’s Sidewalk Obstruction Ordinance Goes Island-Wide, Hawaii’s Service Charge Law,…

Insurance Hurricane Preparedness

Saturday October 20th, 2018
By Tred R. Eyerly at te@hawaiilawyer.com. Tred provides tips for preparing and submitting claims for any loss caused by storms. Download the Legal Alert Update

2018 Legislative Update for Hawaii Businesses and Property Owners

Saturday October 20th, 2018
By Na Lan at nl@hawaiilawyer.com. Na provides a recap on Employment, Confidential Personal Information, Liquor Licenses, Electronic Filing of Tax Returns and Real Estate Download the…

Damon Key Legal Alert – Spring/Summer 2018

Thursday August 9th, 2018
Here’s the Spring/Summer edition of Damon Key’s Legal Alert. With stories on insurance law and the volcanic eruption, construction law, Best Lawyers, Matthew Evans and “40 Under 40,” and…

Damon Key Legal Alert – Winter/Spring 2018

Tuesday May 1st, 2018
Here’s the Winter/Spring 2018 edition of the Legal Alert. With stories on short-term rentals and choice of tenants, medical marijuana and condominium associations, construction law, and the federal tax…

New Article on Property Law: Supreme Court Adds to the Confusion in Takings Cases

Saturday March 3rd, 2018
The Zoning and Planning Law Report recently published Damon Key’s Robert Thomas‘s article on the U.S. Supreme Court’s regulatory takings decision….

Legal Alert (Fall/Winter 2017) Our Growing Team

Wednesday January 31st, 2018
Here’s the Fall/Winter 2017 edition of the Legal Alert. Introducing our new attorneys, and stories on condo law, tax and estate planning, and seawall maintenance.

Considerations for a New Business Enterprise

Wednesday December 20th, 2017
By Christine A. Kubota What if you have a grand idea and you wish to put it into motion? Have you created the prototype of your product or do…

Legal Alert (Summer/Fall 2017) Considerations for a New Business Enterprise

Tuesday December 19th, 2017
Here’s the Summer/Fall 2017 edition of the Legal Alert. With stories on new business formation, 2017 Legislative Update, the Diversity Visa Lottery, and more...

Winning the Green Card Lottery: 2019 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

Monday December 18th, 2017
By Kelly Y. Uwaine kyu@hawaiilawyer.com The Department of State has released the instructions for the 2019 Diversity Visa (DV) program.  Online…

Damon Key Legal Alert Special Edition: Frank Damon (1926-2017)

Monday December 18th, 2017
A special edition of the firm’s Legal Alert, dedicated to our founder, C.F. Damon, Jr. (1926-2017).

2017 Legislative Update

Monday December 18th, 2017
By Christopher J.I. Leong cjil@hawaiilawyer.com The Hawaii State Legislature concluded its 2017 Regular Session with 217 bills becoming law. Here are…

Damon Key Legal Alert – Winter/Spring 2017

Wednesday April 5th, 2017
Here’s the Winter/Spring 2017 edition of the Legal Alert. With stories on New Administration, New Questions, Congratulations, Tred! Tred Eyerly…

Legal Alert (Fall/Winter 2016) Celebrating Frank Damon’s 90th

Tuesday February 28th, 2017
Here’s the Fall/Winter 2016 edition of the Legal Alert. With stories on Access to Justice, What does a Trump Presidency mean for Hawaii contractors.

Legal Alert (Summer/Fall 2016) Damon Key Immigration Practice

Tuesday February 28th, 2017
Here’s the Summer/Fall 2016 edition of the Legal Alert. With stories on Immigration, Conveyance Tax Planning.

Legal Alert (Spring/Summer 2016) 2016 Hawaii Legislature Enacts Five Insurance Related Bills

Tuesday February 28th, 2017
Here’s the Spring/Summer 2016 edition of the Legal Alert. With stories on Insurance, A Revocable Living Trust.

Legal Alert (Winter/Spring 2016) Santiago v. Tanaka: The Hawaii Supreme Court Increases Disclosure Requirements for Commercial Property Sellers

Friday April 1st, 2016
Here’s the Winter/Spring 2016 edition of the Legal Alert. With stories on disclosure requirements in commercial property sales, BE-13 foreign investments, a pending Supreme Court election case, Accessory Dwelling Units, and more...

Legal Alert (Fall/Winter 2015) Get The Facts On Immigrants, Whether Legal Or Illegal, In The US!

Thursday December 31st, 2015
Here’s the Fall/Winter 2015 edition of the Legal Alert. With stories on Immigration Law, Bid Protests in Construction Cases, Land Use Variances, and Crowdfunding and the Law.

Legal Alert (Summer/Fall 2015) What You Need To Know About Hawaii’s New Environmental Court

Thursday October 15th, 2015
Here’s the Summer/Fall 2015 edition of the Legal Alert. With stories on Hawaii’s New Environmental Court, the ban on noncompetes for tech workers, administrative procedures, and more...

Legal Alert (Spring/Summer 2015) Understanding the Differences Between Wills and Trusts

Monday July 13th, 2015
The Spring/Summer 2015 edition of the Legal Alert has been published, with articles about the Differences Between Wills and Trusts, Permitting Commercial Use of State Waters, Hawaii’s New Medical Marijuana Dispensary Law, Welcoming Ikaika Jobe, and more...

Damon Key Legal Alert – Winter/Spring 2015

Wednesday April 8th, 2015
The Winter/Spring 2015 edition of the Legal Alert has been published, with articles on Honolulu Rail and property rights, Matt Evans is the firm’s newest…

Damon Key Legal Alert – Fall/Winter 2014

Wednesday December 17th, 2014
The Fall/Winter 2014 Legal Alert has been published, with articles on Understanding Residential Property Management Agreements, Conducting an Internal I-9 Audit, the Importance of Pre-…

Legal Alert (Summer/Fall 2014) Eminent Domain Tourism, Asheville Style

Tuesday September 23rd, 2014
Here’s the latest Legal Alert, with articles on Eminent Domain, Hawaii’s Uniform Information Practices Act (open records), Alternative Energy Farming, the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, and more...

New Article: A Full and Perfect Equivalent for Just Compensation: Historical Context & Practice

Thursday August 28th, 2014
Damon Key lawyer Robert H. Thomas has published an article in the September 2014 edition of The Practical Real Estate Lawyer. Despite its grand…

Damon Key Legal Alert – Spring/Summer 2014

Tuesday July 15th, 2014
Here’s the latest Legal Alert, with articles on “Answers to Frequently Asked Questions from Chinese Clients,” “Assisting the Japanese Investor,” “Immigration News – Overview of…

Damon Key Attorneys Author Law Review Article on Eminent Domain

Friday January 10th, 2014
Damon Key lawyers Mark Murakami, Bethany Ace, and Robert Thomas have co-authored an article in The Urban Lawyer,…

Legal Alert: Group Builders Update (Insurance Coverage for Construction Defects), 50th Anniversary

Friday April 12th, 2013
Here’s the Winter/Spring 2013 Edition of Legal Alert, with articles on the firm’s tradition of community service, an update on the Group Builders…

Insurers Have a Duty to Defend Construction Defect Claims … Maybe.

Monday April 8th, 2013
Anna H. Oshiro (aho@hawaiilawyer.com) & Tred Eyerly (te@hawaiilawyer.com) Earlier this week, the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) issued an important decision, concluding…

The Founding of Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert (1963-2013)

Saturday March 9th, 2013
Here’s the pdf of the recently-published book about our firm’s two founders, C. Frank Damon and Henry Shigekane. “Founded in Honolulu in 1963…

New Law Review Article on Insurance Coverage

Friday January 11th, 2013
The current issue of the University of Hawaii Law Review includes an article co-authored by Damon Key attorney Tred Eyerly entitled, “Key Issues in…

Legal Alert: Hawaii Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credits (Dec. 2012)

Sunday December 30th, 2012
The State of Hawaii Department of Taxation (“DOT”) recently issued temporary administrative rules that will affect anyone planning on installing and placing in service a…

New Article: Recent Developments in Eminent Domain Law

Sunday December 30th, 2012
The Summer 2012 issue of the Urban Lawyer, the law review published quarterly by the…

New Book: The Law of Eminent Domain – A Fifty State Survey

Friday September 14th, 2012
Damon Key lawyer Robert H. Thomas authored the Hawaii Chapter in the recently-published book The Law of Eminent Domain….

Legal Alert (October – December 2011)

Monday November 28th, 2011
The firm’s final Legal Alert for 2011, available for download here.

New Article: Local Govt and the First Amendment at the Supreme Court: Legislative Voting as “Speech”

Saturday September 17th, 2011
The ABA has published a new article Local Government and the First Amendment at the Supreme Court: Legislative Voting…

Legal Alert (January – March 2011)

Thursday March 17th, 2011
The firm’s first Legal Alert for 2011, available for download here.

Legal Alert (July – September 2010)

Wednesday September 1st, 2010
The firm’s third Legal Alert for 2010, available for download here.

Legal Alert (April – June 2010)

Wednesday June 9th, 2010
The firm’s second Legal Alert for 2010, available for download here.

Legal Alert (January – March 2010)

Friday March 5th, 2010
The firm’s first Legal Alert for 2010, available for download here.

Damon Key Attorneys Publish Hawaii Chapter in “A State-by-State Guide to Construction & Design Law”

Thursday January 7th, 2010
Damon Key construction lawyers Kenneth Kupchak, Anna Oshiro, Christi-Anne H. Kudo Chock, and Tred Eyerly teamed together to write the Hawai`i chapter for the recent…

New Law Review Article: Recent Developments in Public Use and Pretext in Eminent Domain

Friday October 23rd, 2009
Each summer, The Urban Lawyer (the ABA’s Section of State and Local Government Law‘s peer-reviewed law review), devotes an issue to…

Legal Alert (July – September 2009)

Tuesday September 29th, 2009
The firm’s third Legal Alert for 2009, available for download here.

New Developments in Employment Eligibility Requirements & the E-Verify Online System

Wednesday September 2nd, 2009
A few months ago, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published new regulations relating to the unlawful hiring or continued employment of aliens who are…

Breadth of the Flood Exclusion: A Flood is a Flood Including Storm Surge

Monday August 3rd, 2009
Tred Eyerly’s article critiques the Fifth Circuit’s post-Hurricane Rita decision in Arctic Slope Regional Corp. v. Affiliated FM Ins. Co. The case involved insurance…

Legal Alert (April – June 2009)

Wednesday April 15th, 2009
The firm’s second Legal Alert for 2009, available for download here, carries articles on our New Generation of Associates, C. Kubota and the Wahine…

Legal Alert (January – March 2009)

Thursday January 15th, 2009
The first Legal Alert for 2009, available for download here, carries articles on the firm’s Real Estate and Construction Practice, Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and…

Hurricane and Flood Insurance After Hurricane Katrina

Thursday January 1st, 2009
Many homeowners assume a homeowner’s policy provides hurricane and flood coverage. This is typically not the case, as hurricane and flood coverage must be purchased…

Legal Alert (October – December 2008)

Wednesday October 15th, 2008
The last Legal Alert for 2008, available for download here, begins with a Tribute to our Founders. Other articles cover Construction in Risky Times,…

Legal Alert (July – September 2008)

Tuesday July 1st, 2008
The firm’s third Legal Alert for 2008, available for download here, discusses the New Dept. of Homeland Security Pre-Boarding Requirement for 90-Day Visitors, Worksite…

Legal Alert (April – June 2008)

Tuesday April 1st, 2008
Our second Legal Alert for 2008, available for download here, carries articles on our Legal Bloggers, our Maritime and…

Legal Alert (January – March 2008)

Tuesday January 1st, 2008
The firm’s first Legal Alert for 2008, available for download here, carries articles on Insurance 101 (basic considerations regarding insurance policies), our own Insurance…