Imagine unlocking the front door of a loved one’s home for the first time after the funeral. Closets packed with decades of clothing. Cabinets filled with dishes no one ever used. A garage stacked floor-to-ceiling with tools, holiday decorations, and boxes labeled miscellaneous . Drawers full of papers, keepsakes, and objects whose stories are already fading. For many families, this moment is overwhelming — and it happens every single day, including right here in Honolulu and across Hawaiʻi....

When Honolulu families begin thinking about estate planning, one of the first questions that comes up is simple — do I need a will, a trust, or both?  Unfortunately, the answers you’ll hear from friends, social media, or online “experts” often conflict, leaving you more confused than confident. The truth is this: estate planning isn’t about choosing the right document . It’s about creating a plan that actually works when your loved ones need it most — during moments of stress, grief, or...

You may already know you “should” have a will or a trust — but have you ever had a real conversation with your family about why  your money exists in the first place? A thoughtfully written f amily mission statement, paired with a well-designed estate plan, can dramatically increase the odds that both your wealth and your relationships survive for generations. You spend a lifetime working, saving, and building a life for the people you love. Yet studies consistently show that around 70% of...