SEA Trusts & Wills

Estate Planning Solutions

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.

For many, it’s not a lack of importance that causes the delay, but rather the feeling that estate planning is too complex or time-consuming. The process can seem overwhelming, especially if you're not sure where to start. But with the right guidance, it can be simpler—and more empowering—than you think.

At SEA Financial Hawaii, we strive to make effective estate planning easier and more accessible. However, we recognize that we're not the right fit for everyone. It all depends on the level of complexity of your estate planning needs. For highly complex cases beyond our scope of services, we can assist in referring you to an estate planning attorney licensed in Hawaii.

So, who is a good fit? You may be a good fit for our services if all of these ‘SEA-7’ conditions are met:

¹Domiciled anywhere in the United States;

²Desires an estate plan that is dynamic and can change as their life changes;

³Non-taxable estates (under federal estate or state estate tax threshold);

⁴Has a need for Will, Power of Attorney, HIPAA Authorization, Healthcare Directive, and Revocable Living Trust if necessary;

⁵Has a straightforward family structure and wishes to create a plan in partnership with a spouse (if applicable);

⁶Is happy to use outright or aged-based distributions of the grantor’s choosing for beneficiaries (i.e. ⅓ at age 18, ⅓ at 25, ⅓ at 35);

⁷Wishes to have expert support throughout the process to help them create a plan that suits their needs.

At SEA Financial Hawaii, we guide clients through the estate planning process with professional aloha™—expertise delivered with warmth, respect, and care. We’ll help you understand your options, work with your estate planning attorney, and make sure your financial plan reflects your values and vision.

If our, "SEA Hi-tech/Hi-touch" approach syncs with your needs, please feel free to reach out below (Learn More) to book a time directly to discuss your unique situation. Call us at ‪(725) FEE-ONLY (that's 725-333-6659‬).

Note: The information is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. To obtain legal advice about a specific situation, consult an attorney.

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