Matthew A Sylva

Hi there. My name's Matthew and I'm the owner and attorney for Akamai Law, LLLC. I provide legal services for people for a variety of cases and am always eager for new challenges and to find innovative solutions to my client's concerns.

I have a great deal of experience working on criminal defense cases from criminal traffic cases to felonies and DUIs and everything in between from my time representing indigent clients with the Office of the Public Defender in Kailua-Kona. I also have experience with family criminal and TRO cases, juvenile criminal cases, and mental health cases from that job. And I have experience and a certificate in environmental law from the William S. Richardson School of Law. I will handle certain civil matters on a case-by-case basis.

I'm passionate about what I do and in representing you my client and empathic to you and your issue.

University of Hawai'i at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law

J.D. (2017) | Law

2014 - 2017

Activities: President of Students for Public Outreach and Civic Education (SPOCÉ) 2013-2014

University of Hawaii - Manoa

B.S. (2014) | Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences

2009 - 2014

Honors: Mortar Board National Senior Honor Society Graduated with Honors

University of Hawaii - Manoa

B.A. (2014) | Journalism

2009 - 2014

Honors: Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society in Journalism and Mass Communication (for being in the top 10% of students in both fields)

Owner/Attorney

Akamai Law, LLLC

2022 - Current

Deputy Public Defender III

Office of the Public Defender

2018 - 2022

I handled district court traffic, DUI, and petty crimes cases where I worked on several thousand cases and have taken nearly 100 to trial. I later handled jury demanded misdemeanor and felony cases in circuit court such as burglary, negligent homicide, drug possession, robbery, domestic violence, habitual DUI, and violation of TRO. I’ve taken several to jury trial and many more to motion hearings.

President

Students for Public Outreach and Civic Education (SPOCE)

2016 - 2017

The University of Hawai’i at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law’s organization for public outreach, assisting the Hawaii Supreme Court with its public oral hearings at state schools program, and providing constitutional law and other educational programs for Hawaii students.

Law Clerk Extern

State of Hawaii Judiciary

2016 - 2016

Summer Clerkship for the Honorable Ronald Ibarra (since Ret.) working on drafting memos and assisting in court and with other judicial assignments in areas such as foreclosure cases, environmental law cases, wrongful death cases, and insurance claims and defense cases before the court.

Summer Extern

State of Hawaii Legislature

2015 - 2015

Worked as a summer extern at the State Legislature with Senator Jarrett Keohokalole. I worked on issues for the Senator (who was a Representative at the time) concerning environmental law administrative proceedings and legislation, medical use cannabis legislation, etc.

State Bar of Hawaii

Member

2018 - Current

West Hawaii Bar Association

2018 - Current

Hawaii

Hawaii State Bar Association

Since 2017

• Free Consultation
  We offer free consultations over the phone or by video. Please try to keep things under 30 minutes. If a you require a longer consultation, we can schedule one for a fee.
• Credit Cards Accepted
• Contingent Fees
  We do not normally handle cases on a contingent basis, however we will consider certain exceptions if we believe we can properly handle your case. Criminal and family cases are always by flat fee or at an hourly rate.
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  Contact us today to learn about our rates compared to the true costs of going unrepresented.

• Temporary Restraining Orders
• Excessive Speeding Tickets (30+mph or over 80mph)

Q. On the 6th of January, I was involved in a minor collision where my car had collided with another. No one was harmed and

February 11, 2022

A: You should consider consulting an attorney for actual legal advice based on what's in your question above. Your situation involves possible insurance fraud (if you filed a claim with Geico for the accident versus just showing the police that you had current insurance by the time they arrived). That's typically what they mean by checking that the times match up. Geico will likely obtain copies of the police report and check to the minute whether your policy with them was obtained prior to the alleged accident date/time. If they find that it was not but you made a claim, they will possibly file a complaint with the Hawaii Attorney General's Office and you could face criminal charges. Those are serious in Hawaii and possible felonies. I wouldn't worry so much about a charge from the county prosecutor about not having insurance (unless you have prior convictions for such within 5 years). The penalties for a first-time no insurance violation can be remedied at least in part in a number of ways after the fact and there is no possible jail time for a first offense. And if you told the police your insurance was active at the time of the accident, you could face other possible criminal charges. If the other person had insurance at the time of the accident, their insurance company would cover them minus any deductible they had though you might not be "off the hook" so the speak. ... Read More

Q. I have been charged for 2 misdemeanor's in Hawaii. How will this affect my travels if a warrant is issued for my arrest?

February 11, 2022

A: I cannot answer as to your possible outcome for interacting with border agents for the USA or to the impacts of a conviction for either or both offenses on your ability to travel (more of an immigration law question). But as to the Hawaiʻi criminal law aspect of your question, I can tell you that bench warrants issued by a court in Hawaiʻi for petty misdemeanors (CPD 4) and misdemeanors (CPD 3) are not extraditable from other US jurisdictions. If you were arrested or detained by another State they should not detain you further to conduct an extradition hearing or fly you back in custody after such a hearing because the warrant is not extraditable. Though if you have to fly back to Australia through Hawaiʻi the State would be able to arrest you during a layover in Hawaiʻi if they found you and served you with the warrant and arrested you. ... Read More

Q. I have a TRO case in a week, the only evidence the other party has against me is screenshots and the use of cell phone.

February 10, 2022

A: It depends. In criminal Violation of TRO proceedings, the State would need to turn over copies of any discovery/evidence related to a person's case. In a civil proceeding that could either be in district or family court depending on whether you and the other person meet the criteria for relatives, partners, etc. If the other person is attempting to obtain a TRO against you, that person should have to file an exhibit list with the court and provide you a copy. And the person would have to be able to meet the evidentiary foundation requirements under the Hawaii Rules of Evidence in order for the Court to properly consider the contents (often screenshots printed on paper or video published in the courtroom). Hearsay is a common legal objection, but it can be overcome under a number of listed exceptions to the rule. If the other person has an attorney, their attorney is likely capable of doing the above for them and then such information may be admissible depending on some other rules of evidence. ... Read More