Felonies

Felonies Lawyer in Honolulu

Oʻahu Felony Defense: Confronting High-Stakes Criminal Charges

In Hawaii, a felony charge is the most severe accusation the state can level against you. Unlike misdemeanors, which are processed quickly in local district courts, felony offenses escalate to the First Circuit Court (Kaʻahumanu Hale). 

A felony conviction threatens to permanently strip away your freedom, dismantle your career, alienate you from your family, and leave you with a permanent criminal record that restricts your housing, employment, and constitutional rights for the rest of your life.

When the state targets you with a felony indictment, the prosecutor’s office will deploy immense investigative resources, forensic technicians, and expert witnesses to secure a conviction. 

At such a critical time, you cannot afford to enter the courtroom underrepresented. Law Office of Brian S. Kim can serve as your unyielding defense line in such felonies; we represent clients across Honolulu, Pearl City, Waimalu, East Honolulu, and the entire island of Oʻahu.

Our firm offers both in-office and virtual consultations, as well as 24/7 access for urgent matters.

Call (808) 207-7192 or contact us online for a complimentary consultation with a Honolulu felonies attorney if you are under criminal investigation, have been arrested, or have been charged. 

When Your Choice Of Defense Counsel Is Crucial

When you face a felony charge, your defense attorney's specific background can mean the difference between a dismissed case and a decade in a state correctional facility. The prosecution’s legal team is trained to stack charges, maximize financial penalties, and aggressively block probation requests.

Your choice of a lawyer is vital for three critical reasons:

The prosecutorial edge: Attorney Kim is a former Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu. Because he has built felony cases from the other side of the courtroom, he knows how the state structures its indictments, how they pressure defendants into unfavorable plea deals, and where its evidence is most vulnerable to cross-examination.

Defeating sentence enhancements: Hawaii law allows prosecutors to pursue extended terms or mandatory minimums if a weapon was present or if you have any prior convictions. An experienced trial attorney knows how to fight these enhancements to keep prison time off the table.

Securing alternate dispositions: For eligible, nonviolent offenses, a skilled lawyer can fight for a deferred acceptance of a guilty plea. If successfully secured and completed, the court holds off on entering a conviction, allowing you to walk away with a clean criminal record.

  • “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.
  • “I was satisfied with the outcome of my case!”
    “Highly recommend him to friends and family!”
    - JD
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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 Step-by-Step Approach to Overturning Felony Allegations

We do not look at your case as a file to be pleaded out quickly. We approach every felony charge as if it is heading directly to a jury trial and act accordingly. 

  • Independent case deconstruction: We launch an immediate, thorough review of the state's case file. We independently interview witnesses, request raw police dashcam and bodycam footage, and audit forensic or digital evidence collected against you.
  • Seeking immediate dismissal: Our priority is to have your felony charges dropped or dismissed entirely before a trial is even considered. We aggressively review the state’s evidence for fatal flaws, such as unconstitutional searches, unreliable witnesses, or a lack of probable cause, and present these defects directly to the prosecutor or the judge to seek a swift dismissal.
  • Leverage-based negotiation: If the state refuses a dismissal, we pivot to highly calculated negotiations. We negotiate from a position of strategic strength, leveraging the insights we uncovered during our investigation. If it's appropriate for your goals, we fight to negotiate the charges down to a misdemeanor or secure alternative resolutions, such as a deferred plea, to keep your record clean.
  • Aggressive litigation: Courtroom litigation is never our first choice, but it is our strongest asset. If the prosecution refuses to drop the charges, rejects a fair reduction, or acts unreasonably during negotiations, our trial-ready preparation takes over. Armed with over 20 years of courtroom experience, Attorney Kim knows how to advocate for your innocence in front of a jury.

Call Us Today to Speak with Our Honolulu Felony Defense Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been arrested, subpoenaed, or indicted for a felony on Oʻahu, time is your most valuable asset. Put a battle-tested former prosecutor in your corner who understands how to deconstruct the other side’s case, protect your rights, and aggressively work to bring you an optimal outcome. 

Call (808) 207-7192 or message us online to book a free case evaluation about your felony investigation, arrest, or charges. 

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Understanding Hawaii’s Felony Classification & Penalty System

Hawaii operates under a distinct, multi-tiered felony framework defined by Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS). The state uses an indeterminate sentencing model: while the sentencing judge imposes the statutory maximum for a conviction, a separate entity, the Hawaii Paroling Authority (HPA), ultimately determines the minimum time you must serve before becoming eligible for parole.

Felonies on Oʻahu are categorized into the following tiers based on severity.

Murder & Attempted Murder

The most severe tier in Hawaii’s penal code bypasses the standard lettered classes.

Penalties: Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole (for first-degree offenses involving multiple victims or protected public servants) or life imprisonment with the possibility of parole (for second-degree offenses).

Class A Felonies

The highest standard classification tier is reserved for severe, violent, or inherently dangerous crimes.

Example crimes: Kidnapping, first-degree robbery, manslaughter, and severe sex trafficking or first-degree sexual assault offenses.

Penalties: Indeterminate prison terms of up to 20 years and mandatory fines up to $50,000. Under Hawaii law, probation is strictly prohibited for Class A felonies; a prison sentence is mandatory upon conviction.

Class B Felonies

Mid-tier felony offenses involving high-value property crimes or specific violent actions.

Example crimes: First-degree burglary, first-degree theft (stolen property valued at $20,000 or more), forgery, and drug distribution charges.

Penalties: Imprisonment up to 10 years and discretionary fines up to $25,000. Probation is technically permissible at the judge's discretion unless mandatory minimum terms apply.

Class C Felonies

The lowest tier of felony offenses, but it still carries mandatory eligibility for prison.

Example crimes: Second-degree assault, felony abuse of a family or household member (domestic violence), habitual DUI, property damage, and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.

Penalties: Imprisonment up to five years and discretionary fines up to $10,000.