Felony DUI

Felony DUI Lawyer in Honolulu

Defending Against Life-Altering Charges on Oʻahu

An arrest for a standard DUI is a stressful traffic misdemeanor. A felony DUI, however, is an entirely different battle. The moment your offense is elevated to a felony tier, the state stops viewing your case as a routine traffic lapse and begins treating you as a serious criminal threat.

The state will deploy vast resources to secure a conviction, seeking mandatory state prison time, the permanent loss of your driving privileges, and the total forfeiture of your personal vehicle. 

A felony conviction will strip away your civil rights, including your right to vote and own a firearm, and leave you with a permanent criminal record that can shatter your career, your military standing, and your future. 

If you are facing a felony DUI anywhere on Oʻahu, you need a seasoned trial attorney who can step in to fight the government's timeline. When you hire Law Office of Brian S. Kim, you gain a distinct, built-in advantage in the courtroom. 

Attorney Kim is a former Honolulu prosecutor who built high-stakes felony DUI files from the other side of the legal system. He knows how prosecutors structure their cases, how judges evaluate habitual enhancements, and where the state's technical evidence is most vulnerable. 

Discuss your case in a free initial in-office or virtual consultation with our Honolulu felony DUI attorney by contacting us online or at (808) 207-7192. Available 24/7.

Partner with an Oʻahu Criminal Defense Champion Today

A felony DUI charge will not disappear on its own, and time is your most valuable asset. Put a trial-tested former Honolulu prosecutor with over 20 years of professional experience in your corner; Attorney Kim understands the mechanics of the system and knows how to protect you both in negotiations outside the courtroom and at trial before a judge and jury. 

Call (808) 207-7192 or send us an online message to schedule a complimentary consultation with our Honolulu felony DUI attorney today. 

  • “Thanks to his hard work, we had a great outcome.”
    “We’re incredibly thankful to Lawyer Brian Kim for the amazing job he did representing our son.”
    - Satisfied Client
  • “Brian is Awesome.”
    “Very easy-going and handled everything like a true professional.”
    - Tory W.
  • “They will help you with your problems and make them go away.”
    “This was an amazing relief and amazing work by the Brian Kim Office, I highly recommend anyone dealing with traffic or speeding lawsuits.”
    - Jalen Y.
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    “Highly recommend him to friends and family!”
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Why Choose Law Office of Brian S. Kim?

  • Free Initial Consultation
    Get clear answers about your legal options at no cost. Speak directly with an experienced defense attorney and learn how we can help protect your future.
  • Former Prosecutor Advantage
    Benefit from the unique insight of attorney Brian S. Kim, a former Honolulu deputy prosecuting attorney who understands how prosecutors build cases and how to challenge them effectively.
  • Dedicated Criminal & DUI Defense
    Whether you're facing DUI, drug charges, assault allegations, theft accusations, or other criminal offenses, we fight aggressively to protect your rights and future.
  • Traffic Ticket & License Protection
    From speeding and reckless driving citations to serious traffic violations, we work to minimize penalties and help you keep your driving privileges.

Our Felony Defense Strategy for Clients Across the Island

Our firm implements a precise, phased approach to your felony defense.

Auditing and disputing lookback prior convictions: To secure a felony conviction, the state must cleanly prove your past convictions are legally valid. We aggressively audit your prior out-of-state citations or past Hawaii cases. If a prior conviction involved a constitutional violation, such as a lack of proper legal counsel, we fight to strike it from the record, which can collapse the felony classification back down to a misdemeanor.

Dismantling chemical and technical evidence: We conduct a forensic evaluation of the state's testing procedures. We challenge the calibration records of the Intoxilyzer machines, the medical protocols used during blood draws, and the training records of the arresting officers. If the machinery was out of compliance by even a single day, we can file motions to suppress the BAC readings.

Uncompromising courtroom litigation: Our primary directive is to seek a total dismissal or a reduction to a non-felony tier. If the prosecution refuses to act reasonably despite clear vulnerabilities in their file, we do not hesitate. Backed by over 20 years of professional courtroom experience and a high success rate, Attorney Kim can take your case to a jury and aggressively advocate for you at trial.

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The Statutory Penalties

Because Hawaii operates under an indeterminate sentencing model, the penalties for a felony DUI conviction are remarkably harsh. The court will sentence you under one of two severe classifications. 

Standard Habitual DUI (Class C Felony)

Incarceration: A mandatory indeterminate state prison sentence of up to five years, or a strict five-year probation term that includes mandatory jail time. 

Driver’s license revocation: Mandatory revocation of your license to operate a vehicle for a minimum of three years up to five years, paired with mandatory ignition interlock mandates. 

Fines and surcharges: Mandatory fines ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, plus mandatory trauma and toxicology fund fees. 

Asset forfeiture: The state can legally initiate civil forfeiture proceedings to seize and permanently take ownership of the vehicle you were driving at the time of your arrest. 

Highly Intoxicated Habitual DUI (Class B Felony)

If you are charged as a habitual offender and your chemical blood or breath test reveals a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15% or higher, the state elevates the charge to a Class B felony.

Incarceration: An indeterminate prison term of up to 10 years, or five years of intense probation that includes a mandatory minimum of 18 months behind bars with zero possibility of early release. 

License revocation: Permanent, lifetime revocation of your driver's license.

Fines: Mandatory fines ranging from $5,000 to $25,000.