SCPR-20-0000___

Electronically Filed
Supreme Court
SCPR-20-0000117
03-MAR-2020
09:23 AM

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I

OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL, Petitioner,
vs.
KATHERINE PUANA KEALOHA (Bar No. 6691), Respondent

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
(ODC 17-O-026, and 19-0065)
PETITION FOR ORDER GRANTING REQUEST OF KATHERINE PUANA KEALOHA
TO RESIGN FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW IN LIEU OF DISCIPLINE;
AFFIDAVIT OF KATHERINE PUANA KEALOHA;
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

BRADLEY R. TAMM (7841),
Chief Disciplinary Counsel
e-Mail: bradley.r.tamm@dbhawaii.org
REBECCA M. SALWIN (10699)
Deputy Chief Disciplinary Counsel
e-Mail: rebecca.m.salwin@dbhawaii.org
OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL
201 Merchant Street, Suite 1600
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813
Telephone: (808) 521-4591

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 SCPR-20-0000___
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I
OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL, Petitioner,
vs.
KATHERINE PUANA KEALOHA (Bar No. 6691), Respondent

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
(ODC 17-O-026, and 19-0065)
PETITION FOR ORDER GRANTING REQUEST OF KATHERINE PUANA KEALOHA
TO RESIGN FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW IN LIEU OF DISCIPLINE
Petitioner OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL (“ODC”), pursuant
to RSCH Rule 2.14(b), hereby files the request of Respondent
KATHERINE PUANA KEALOHA to resign from the practice of law in
lieu of discipline. This Petition is supported by the
CONFIDENTIAL Affidavit of Katherine Puana Kealoha, filed
concurrently.
In 2017, Kealoha was indicted by a federal grand jury, and
following a jury trial, she was convicted of one count of
conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 371, and three counts of corruptly
obstructing an official proceeding, 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2). USA
v. Kealoha, No. 17-CR-00582 (D. Haw.) She now awaits sentencing,
which is set for March 17, 2020.
On May 24, 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Kealoha in a
second federal criminal case, alleging bank fraud, identity
theft and obstruction. USA v. Kealoha, et. al, 18-CR-00068 (D.

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 Haw.). She pled guilty in this case on October 22, 2019, to
charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Sentencing
in this case is also set for March 17, 2020.
Kealoha was indicted in a third case, USA v. Puana, 19-CR00015, which included criminal allegations that Kealoha
conspired to distribute and dispense controlled substances.
Kealoha pled guilty in this case on October 22, 2020, to
misprision of felony. Sentencing is again set for March 17,
2020.
After Kealoha’s first conviction, and upon ODC’s petition
to this Court, the Court issued an order restraining Kealoha
from the practice of law “pending final disposition of a
disciplinary proceeding based on the findings of guilt.” SCAD19-0000473, Dkt. No. 7.
Based on the Supreme Court’s order, as well as the above
criminal cases, the ODC has opened multiple misconduct cases
against Kealoha: ODC Case Nos. 17-O-026 and 19-0065.
Given the jury verdict in 17-CR-00582, and guilty pleas in
18-CR-00068 and 19-CR-00015, Kealoha has acknowledged misconduct
and offers to resign with disciplinary charges pending, pursuant
to RSCH Rule 2.14.
On ________ __, 20__, the Board Chairperson received the
Affidavit of KATHERINE PUANA KEALOHA pursuant to RSCH 2.14(a),

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 and following review pursuant to DBR 28, found it to be in
proper form.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests that this
Honorable Court enter the appropriate Order pursuant to RSCH
2.14(c) granting KATHERINE PUANA KEALOHA’S request to resign
from the practice of law in lieu of discipline.
DATED: March 3, 2020,

OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL
_Rebecca M. Salwin_
REBECCA M. SALWIN
Deputy Chief Disciplinary Counsel

THE FILING OF THIS PETITION WITH
THE SUPREME COURT OF HAWAIʻI IS
HEREBY APPROVED:
_________________________
HON. CLIFFORD L. NAKEA (RET).
CHAIRPERSON, DISCIPLINARY BOARD
OF THE HAWAIʻI SUPREME COURT

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 SCPR-20-0000___
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I
OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL, Petitioner,
vs.
KATHERINE PUANA KEALOHA (Bar No. 6691), Respondent

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
(ODC 17-O-026, and 19-0065)
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
1.

PETITION FOR ORDER GRANTING REQUEST OF KATHERINE PUANA
KEALOHA TO RESIGN FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW IN LIEU OF
DISCIPLINE

2.

AFFIDAVIT OF KATHERINE PUANA KEALOHA IN SUPPORT OF REQUEST
FOR RESIGNATION IN LIEU OF DISCIPLINE

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the above
listed documents were duly served on those individuals or entities
identified on the below service list, as indicated by either (1)
JEFS/JIMS electronic filing, (2) by personal service, or by (3)
U.S. First Class mail, postage prepaid.
DATED: March 3, 2020,

OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL
_Rebecca M. Salwin_
REBECCA M. SALWIN
Deputy Chief Disciplinary Counsel

SERVICE LIST:
By JEFS/JIMS electronic filing:
G. GARY SINGH ( gary@garysinghlaw.com )
REBECCA M. SALWIN ( rebecca.m.salwin@dbhawaii.org )
BRADLEY R. TAMM ( bradley.r.tamm@dbhawaii.org )

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 By personal service:
n/a
By U.S. First Class mail, postage prepaid:
KATHERINE PUANA KEALOHA
c/o Law Off. of Gary G. Singh
700 Bishop St., Ste. 2000
Honolulu, HI 96813

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