Pōhai is an associate in Trusts & Estates Department. She focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, and trusts and estate disputes.
Prior to joining Cades Schutte, Pōhai served as a law clerk for Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, and the Honorable Gary W.B. Chang of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit, State of Hawai‘i.
Pōhai earned her law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawai‘i, cum laude, while also concurrently receiving a Native Hawaiian Language Certificate. She served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the University of Hawai‘i Law Review and received various scholarships and awards, including the Aimee and Ronald H.W. Lum, Jr. Law Review Editor(s)-in-Chief Scholarship, and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for the highest grade in Federal Indian Law. Pōhai also served as a judicial extern to Associate Justice Sabrina S. McKenna of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, and the Honorable Dexter D. Del Rosario (retired) of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit, State of Hawai‘i.
Pōhai earned her undergraduate degree from Winthrop University, graduating as class valedictorian. She also captained Winthrop’s Division I women’s volleyball team and received numerous athletic and academic accolades as a student athlete. After graduating from Winthrop, she returned home to Honolulu and taught at Kamehameha Schools for four years before returning to law school.
Pōhai is proficient in Hawaiian language and is an avid hula dancer who has participated in the Merrie Monarch Festival several times.
Awards
- Hawaii Business Magazine Emerging Legal Stars, 2024
- Pacific Business News “40 Under 40” Class of 2022
- Empowering ʻŌiwi Leadership Award (E OLA), Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, 2022
- Listed in Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch, since 2021
- 2020 Fellow in the HSBA’s 12th Annual Leadership Institute
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award for the highest grade in Federal Indian Law
Community Involvement
- Hālau Ka Liko Pua o Kalaniākea
Education
- J.D. (2015), William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawai‘i, cum laude
- B.S. (2008), Winthrop University, summa cum laude
- Punahou School (2005)
Admissions
- Hawai‘i State Bar (2015)
- United States District Court for the District of Hawai‘i (2015)
Membership
- Hawaii State Bar Association (2015)
- Hawaii State Bar Association, Probate and Estate Planning Section, Board Member
- Hawai‘i Estate Planning Council, Board of Directors (2024-Present)
- Hawai’i Nature Center, Former Board Member
- Hawaii Women Lawyers, Former Board Member
- Hawaii State Bar Association, Elder Law Section, Former Board Member
- Hālau Ka Liko Pua o Kalaniākea
Clerkship
- Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, Hawai‘i Supreme Court, Law Clerk (2016-2017)
- The Honorable Gary W. B. Chang, Circuit Court of the First Circuit, State of Hawai‘i, Law Clerk (2015-2016)
- “Estate Planning Basics: An Approach,” Hawaii State Bar Association Probate and Estate Planning Section (February 20, 2024) (Co-Presenter)
- “Relevant Issue for Hawai’i Estates and Trust, and Real Property,” East Bay Trusts and Estates Lawyers (March 10, 2021) (Co-Presenter)
- “From Theory to Practice: How Attorneys of all Genders are Becoming Allies for Women and Changing The Legal Profession,” Hawaii State Bar Association Bar Convention & Annual Meeting (October 16, 2020) (Panelist)
- “Basic Estate Planning,” Hawaii State Teachers Association (2020-2021) (Co-Presenter)
