Shirley was born and raised on Oahu and is the youngest of four children. After graduating from college, she had the fortunate opportunity to pursue her interest in law by joining an estate planning law firm in Honolulu. During her time there, Shirley had seen numerous families fight over inheritance, determining a loved one’s incapacity, and who should be appointed as the loved one’s guardian or conservator. In the end and regardless of the outcome, sadly, the relationships of these families were never the same. While it was truly heartbreaking for Shirley to watch these situations arise as a result of not having a proper estate plan in place, her passion for estate planning developed, as it allowed her to see first-hand its immense value and the peace of mind that it brings to our clients.
Someone once said, “It’s not the number of family or friends, but the quality of relationships that sustains us.” Building and fostering positive relationships has always been a value of Shirley’s. Accordingly, she is passionate about her role in assisting our clients with not only preserving their assets but their family ties and values as well. Shirley believes that the sensitive issues addressed in estate planning are very personal, and treating our clients with care and compassion is a priority.
Shirley attended Hawaii Pacific University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Advertising. Thereafter, she joined Est8Planning Counsel, where she was mentored by Michelle M. M. Ogata, and simultaneously earned her Associate of Science degree through the Paralegal Program at Kapiolani Community College. Shirley has always admired Michelle’s work ethic, compassion towards others, and the personal bond she creates with every one of her clients. Because she has always taken a paralleled approach to her work, Shirley gladly welcomed the opportunity to work with Michelle again as the first member of her team.
Shirley loves spending quality time with her family and friends, walks with her wife and dog, and enjoys traveling, surfing, and golfing in her spare time.