John is Chair of the Finance, Real Estate, and Corporate Department. His practice focuses on real estate acquisitions and dispositions, commercial lending transactions, development of residential, resort, and commercial projects (including condominium and mixed-use project development), state and federal subdivision registrations, and commercial ground and space leasing.
He received his B.A., with distinction, from Yale University and earned his law degree, cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law. As a law student, he served as Associate Editor of the Northwestern University Law Review.
In 2018, John was appointed to the Hawai‘i Real Estate Commission by Governor Ige. John has been recognized in the Chambers & Partners USA Guide and Best Lawyers in America® for his work in real estate, and is a fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys. He currently serves on the Board of the Albert T. and Wallace T. Teruya Foundation, and previously served as the Chair of the Real Property and Financial Services Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association and Vice President of the Honolulu Chamber Music Series. John is also an enthusiastic member of the Oahu Civic Orchestra.
John is a co-author of the “Overview of Hawai‘i Commercial Leasing Practice: General Provisions” chapter of the Hawai‘i Real Estate Manual, Volume IV, and the “Managing Commercial Real Estate Leases” chapter of the Practical Law Company’s Real Estate Law Surveys.
Awards
- Listed in Chambers & Partners, USA Guide, since 2021
- Listed in Best Lawyers®, since 2019
- Listed in Super Lawyers®, since 2023, Rising Stars, 2014-2020
- Hawaii State Bar Association Leadership Institute, 2014
Community Involvement
- Director, Albert T. and Wallace T. Teruya Foundation
- Commissioner, Real Estate Commission, State of Hawai‘i
- Member, Oahu Civic Orchestra
- Past-President, Real Property and Financial Services Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association
- Past-Vice President, Honolulu Chamber Music Series
Education
- J.D., Northwestern University School of Law, cum laude
- B.A., Yale University, with distinction
Admissions
- Hawai‘i State Bar (2010)
- United States District Court for the District of Hawai‘i
Membership
- Hawaii State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- American College of Mortgage Attorneys
- Opinion Committee of the Real Property and Financial Services Section of the Hawai‘i State Bar Association
- “Overview of Hawai‘i Commercial Leasing Practice: General Provisions,” Hawai‘i Real Estate Manual, Volume IV (Co-Author)
- “Managing Commercial Real Estate Leases,” Real Estate Law Surveys, Practical Law Company (Co-Author)
- “Opinion Letter With Hawai‘i Commentary,” Opinion Committee of the Real Property and Financial Services Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association (Co-Author)
- “Real Estate Transactions 101,” Hawaii State Bar Association CLE 101 Series Seminar, (2015) (Presenter)
- “Opinion Letters: A Comprehensive Overview,” Hawaii State Bar Convention (2014) (Panelist)
- “Hawai‘i Commercial Leasing Practice: General Provisions,” Hawaii State Bar Convention (2013) (panelist)
