Attorney Profiles
RICHARD J. SAKODA
Richard J. Sakoda is a partner at Sterling & Tucker. He practices estate planning, elder law, probate, trust administration, special needs planning for individuals with disabilities and families with disabled children, and Medicaid pre-planning. With over three decades of legal experience, he brings a longstanding commitment to helping Hawaii families plan for the future with clarity and compassion.
Mr. Sakoda was admitted to the practice of law in Hawaii in 1992. He has been widely recognized for his commitment to public service and legal education. For nearly 30 years, he volunteered with the Hawaii State Bar Association’s Legal Line (formerly Ask-A-Lawyer) service, earning the Outstanding Volunteer Award in 1998 and the Justice Award in 2017. In addition, he contributed an article titled “Inheritance, Wills and Trusts” for the 1996 Hawaii Women Lawyers publication Our Rights, Our Lives: A Guide to Women’s Legal Rights in Hawaii.
Richard is known for his thoughtful, client-centered approach and his ability to guide individuals and families through sensitive legal matters with empathy and expertise.
Education
Mr. Sakoda earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington in 1987. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 1992, where he cultivated a deep interest in complex estate planning and elder law, setting the course for his long-standing career serving the legal needs of Hawaii’s families.
Professional Affiliations
Mr. Sakoda is an active member of the legal community. He belongs to the American Bar Association (ABA), Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA), National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA), and Hawaii Estate Planning Council (HEPC). Within these organizations, he participates in several sections, including:
ABA’s Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section
HSBA’s Probate & Estate Planning and Elder Law Sections
NAELA’s Special Needs Law and Trusts & Special Needs Trust Sections
Personal
Outside of the office, Richard enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two sons. Despite his demanding schedule, he especially enjoys games that involve strategy and creative problem-solving, finding them a fun and rewarding way to unwind, spark imagination, and create lasting memories with his loved ones.
MICHELLE SCULLY HOBUS
Michelle Scully Hobus is a partner at Sterling & Tucker. Her love of helping others has guided her career path from California to Calcutta, ultimately leading her to Hawaii and to Sterling & Tucker. Since joining the firm in 2004, Michelle has assisted clients in preserving their financial legacies with estate and disability planning. She also has a deep understanding of estate planning for young families whether they are just starting out or adding to their family. She previously served on the Board of Governors for the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association.
Personal
Michelle, originally a California attorney, paused her law career after a tragic personal event. While visiting her husband—also a lawyer and Punahou graduate—in San Francisco, she was wounded during a shooting spree carried out by a former client at his law firm. Her husband was killed while saving her life.
In the aftermath, Michelle dedicated herself to violence prevention and the passage of reasonable firearms legislation. She formed a nonprofit organization, Legal Community Against Violence and became involved with Handgun Control Inc. (The Brady Campaign) which brought her lobbying efforts to Washington, where she provided testimony before the United States Congress.
Michelle is the recipient of the Sue Kingsley Volunteer Award, Handgun Control, Inc in Washington, D.C., the Points of Light Award from San Francisco’s Points of Light Foundation, the Courage To Care Award, from the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence in Los Angeles and the Leadership Award from American Jewish Congress in San Francisco. She is a member of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence Founder’s Circle.
Community involvement is also important to Michelle. She has served as a volunteer with her church, educating children and feeding the homeless. Her dedication to non profit organizations has led her to serving on the Governing Board of the Hawaii International Dyslexia Association and the University Laboratory School.
Education
A four year Dean’s List student, Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts degree and graduated Cum Laude in 1988 from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. Following college Michelle spent a year with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in San Francisco, living and working with homeless women and children. After completing law school she once again worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India. In 1992, Michelle received her Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco Law School. She was admitted to the California State Bar in 1992, and in 2003 to the Hawaii State Bar.
KANANI M. MAKAIMOKU
Kanani M. Makaimoku is a partner at Sterling & Tucker. Following law school, she worked at a small family law firm before joining the Domestic Violence Action Center in 2006 as a Staff Attorney. In 2008, she was promoted to Managing Attorney, where she oversaw staff while maintaining a caseload of divorce, paternity, and temporary restraining order cases. During her time there, Kanani developed a passion for working with survivors of domestic violence and other marginalized populations.
Her commitment to promoting access to justice led her to volunteer with Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii (VLSH), where she supported programs for pregnant and parenting teens and provided legal advice to underserved clients. Kanani has also served as a volunteer mediator with the Mediation Center of the Pacific and remains active in the Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club. In 2025, she became a board member of the YMCA of Honolulu, continuing her dedication to community service. She is also a regular donor at the Blood Bank of Hawaii.
Kanani is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association and the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. She is also a former member of the Hawaii State Judiciary’s Access to Justice Commission, where she served on the Pro Bono Committee.
Education
Kanani is a proud Honors Diploma graduate of Kamehameha Schools. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations with a minor in Sociology from Pepperdine University, where she graduated magna cum laude and was named to the Dean’s List for all four years. During college, she was active in Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, Golden Key International Honour Society, and the Pepperdine Hawaii Club.
She received her Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 2005. As a law student, she participated in organizations such as ‘Ahahui ‘O Hawai‘i and Advocates for Public Interest Law and held externships at the Hawaii Supreme Court and the Family Court of the First Circuit.
Kanani was admitted to practice before all Hawaii State courts and the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii in 2005.
Personal
In her spare time, Kanani enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two sons. She also loves reading for pleasure, relaxing at the beach, watching movies, and sharing delicious meals with friends and family.
DEBBIE L. TANAKAYA
Debbie Tanakaya is an Associate Attorney at Sterling & Tucker, bringing with her over fifteen years of experience as a state government attorney. Debbie served as a prosecuting attorney and as legal counsel for Hawaii’s only state-operated psychiatric hospital. Through these roles, Debbie gained extensive knowledge of the state’s mental health laws and developed a strong understanding of the legal and emotional challenges faced by individuals living with mental illness, as well as the people who support them. Her background enables her to approach estate planning with sensitivity and care.
Prior to joining Sterling & Tucker in 2022, Debbie also practiced as a civil litigator in the field of Insurance Defense, where she honed her advocacy and negotiation skills. She has been licensed to practice law in the State of Hawaii since 2003 and is a member of both the Hawaii State Bar Association and the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.
Education
Born and raised in Hawaii, Debbie graduated from Aiea High School. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, where she majored in Finance and minored in Speech. While completing her undergraduate studies, she participated in the College Program at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL.
She later attended the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, where she earned both her Juris Doctor and Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation. While in law school, she was a recognized student attorney by the Internal Revenue Service, providing legal assistance and representation in the school’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.
Personal
In her free time, Debbie enjoys spending time with family and friends. She and her husband can be found at the golf course or baseball field cheering on their two children. Debbie has a strong passion for culinary experiences and is eager to discover new flavors and stay informed about the latest food trends. Her bucket list includes traveling throughout the country to visit all the baseball stadiums in the nation. During O-bon season, you can find Debbie playing the fue and taiko drums at bon dances across the island.
MICHELLE H. TUCKER
Michelle Tucker specializes in the concerns of clients ages 55 and older who are either in retirement or planning for retirement. She is well-versed in all of the critical aspects of retirement—wealth management, taxes, estate and long-term care planning and providing legacies for loved ones. As the co-founder and partner of the firm of Sterling & Tucker since 1991, she has helped families make the best choices for their retirement, grow and preserve assets, save on taxes, and then be able to pass their wealth as efficiently as possible to the next generation.
Have you accumulated enough to retire and to be financially independent? How do you manage your finances so that you will not outlive your resources? If you are like most people, you will retire only once, and mistakes in this process can be extremely costly. How often do you do something perfectly, when it’s the first time you have ever done it? By establishing a long-term relationship with Michelle, she can help manage your financial life not just when you retire, but for the rest of your life.
Most people want to minimize taxes. If you could be paying less income tax annually, Michelle will know it. In addition, she will help you avoid potentially huge estate taxes, income tax on IRAs, retirement distributions and inherited IRAs. She’ll help you make the most of your assets so you can enjoy what you’ve built over a lifetime and have a successful retirement. As life progresses, she’ll be a resource and guide for important decisions concerning your long-term care and the best ways to leave your wealth to those you love.
Professional
Ms. Tucker is an estate planning attorney, a CPA/Personal Financial Specialist and a Certified Financial Planner. Her professional capabilities together with the wisdom gained from over 40 years in practice, combine to bring positive change to the lives of her clients.
She was the first attorney in Hawaii to be certified by the American Bar Association (ABA) accredited Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc., as an Estate Planning Law Specialist and maintained her certification through 2020.
Ms. Tucker is an American Bar Foundation Fellow and a Charter Member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She belongs to both the Hawaii State and American Bar Associations. She belongs to the Hawaii Society of CPAs and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as the American College of Financial Planners.
She contributes to local news publications, is a sought-after public speaker and has co-authored three books: “Guiding Those Left Behind”, “Total Wealth Management”, and “Estate Planning Basics in Hawaii”.
Over the years, Michelle has achieved recognition as one of the “Ten Most Dependable”™ Wealth Managers in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii, one of Pacific Business News’ “Hawaii’s Top Wealth Managers” as ranked by NABCAP, and a FIVE STAR Wealth Manager in Honolulu magazine and in Hawaii Business magazine.
Education
Ms. Tucker attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1977 and a Juris Doctor from William S. Richardson School of Law in 1981. As a student, she received numerous local and national awards, and credits much of her success to her teachers at McKinley High School, and professors at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Shidler College of Business, and William S. Richardson School of Law.
Personal
Ms. Tucker is the mother of four children and spends her free time exploring Hawaii’s breath-taking coastlines and mountain ranges.