SEA Wills & Trusts

Here in Hawaiʻi, ohana (family) is everything. Whether you’re caring for keiki, supporting aging parents, you own a home, a growing retirement portfolio, or inherited property on Maui, you have something worth protecting. Even if you're not in the top tax bracket, a trust can help reduce estate taxes, avoid costly probate, and ensure your legacy stays with your loved ones—not tied up in court or lost to unnecessary taxes. 

At SEA Financial Hawaii, we help kamaʻāina clients across the islands—and on the mainland—use trusts to manage wealth, avoid probate, and define a legacy with intention.

Even with the right information and intentions, many people still put off estate planning—and it’s easy to understand why. Some assume it’s something only older or wealthier individuals need to worry about. Others—particularly those in their 30s to 50s—believe their assets will simply pass to their spouse or children automatically.

But that’s a risky assumption. Without a legal plan in place, state intestacy laws take over—and the outcome may not align with your wishes. As I've heard it said, "If you don’t have a will or trust, the State of Hawai‘i has one for you...", but it may not reflect your wishes. Without proper estate planning, your assets will be distributed according to state intestacy laws, which may not align with what you’d want for your family or loved ones. Planning ahead puts you—not the courts—in control.