JOHN ROTH formed Hawaii Trust & Estate Counsel in April of 2014 . 

John has taught Estate Planning as an adjunct law professor at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai`i–Manoa, and lectures in several other law courses there.  He also has taught the Business Law course at the University of Hawai`i–Hilo.  John is also a frequent speaker at seminars for lawyers and other professionals in the areas of estate planning, probate administration, law firm management, and legal ethics.  His publications include co-authorship of the Hawaii State Bar Association’s Estate Planning Forms Manual (2012) and Hawaii law section of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Report, Comparison of Domestic Asset Protection Trust Statutes (2014). 

In 2016, John was recognized as one of Hawaii's "40 Under 40",  an annual award given by Pacific Business News to 40 of the most influential professionals under 40 years old, in the State of Hawaii.  John has served as president of the Young Lawyers Division and the Estate Planning Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association, and cofounder of the Solo & Small Firm Section.  He is past president of the Rotary Club of North Hawaii and served on the board of the Parker School.  John is also a past president of the North Hawaii Hospice board; and on the advisory board for the West Hawaii Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation. John is currently on the Hawaii Island Leadership Council of the Hawaii Community Foundation and serves on the board of The Donkey Mill Art Center in Holualoa.

John earned a B.S. degree in Business Communications from the University of Kansas in 2003 (Phi Beta Kappa), and joint J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from the William S. Richardson School of Law and Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawai`i–Manoa in 2007.  He grew up on Oahu where he attended public elementary schools and graduated with honors from Punahou Academy.

Prior to starting his own estate planning law firm based in Waimea, John spent six years with Hastings Laun & Roth.  Prior to that, John was associated with Case Lombardi & Pettit on Oahu.

WILLIAM "KUMU" BELCHER is an associate attorney with Hawaii Trust & Estate Counsel, working primarily out of the Hilo office. Kumu has worked as an estate planning attorney for over a decade and has been with Hawaii Trust & Estate Counsel since its inception in 2014.

Kumu was born and raised in Hilo, where he graduated from Hilo High School and the University of Hawai`i–Hilo, with a degree in cell and molecular biology. Prior to entering law school, he served as an East Hawaii Ocean Safety Officer. He received his law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai`i–Manoa in 2013. While in law school, he interned at the First Circuit Court, Probate Division, for the honorable Judge Derek H.M. Chan. In

An avid waterman, Kumu enjoys being in and around the ocean, surfing and free-diving.

RANDALL ROTH is of counsel to the firm.  He is a nationally recognized expert in taxation, trust & estate planning, and resolution of trust & estate disputes. He was a member of the faculty at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai`i–Manoa for three decades; and has lectured at dozens of other law schools, including Harvard, NYU, UCLA, Berkeley, Duke, Chicago, and Columbia. 

Randall has received the University of Hawai`i–Manoa's highest awards for classroom teaching and community service and has served as President of the Hawaii State Bar Association, Hawaii Justice Foundation, Hawaii Institute for Continuing Legal Education, and Hawaii Estate Planning Counsel.  In 2000, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin included him on its list of “100 Who Made a Difference in Hawaii During the Twentieth Century”; in 2005, the City of Honolulu Centennial Commission included him on its list of “100 Individuals Who Made Lasting Contributions During the City's First 100 Years”; in 2006 he co-authored a bestselling book, Broken Trust, that was named Book of the Year by the Hawaii Book Publishers Association; and in 2009, Morehouse College presented him with its highest award for pursuit of social justice.  More recently (and on a lighter note), he served as a script consultant for a movie, The Descendants, which won the Academy Award in 2012 for best screenplay.

Professor Roth was an Academic Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and Associate Reporter for the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law of Trusts, prior to retiring as a law professor.

STAFF

KRYSTAL KAUKA is Hawaii Trust & Estate Counsel’s Office Manager/Paralegal and has been with the firm since 2016.

Krystal has an associate degree in Business Management from Fortis College. Her organizational and communication skills allow Hawaii Trust & Estate Counsel to offer personalized estate planning to each client. Krystal says the best part of her job is “being able to help people gain peace of mind”.

Born and raised on Hawaii Island, Krystal resides in Waikoloa with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys being outdoors with her family. Her hobbies are practicing archery and bowhunting.

ASHLEY MARTINEZ is Hawaii Trust & Estate Counsel’s Administrative Assistant.

Ashley is often the first person clients will talk to when contacting Hawaii Trust & Estate Counsel. Her knowledge of the estate planning process and helpful manner allows for personalized service for each client. Ashley describes the best part of her job as “helping people make a plan to see that their wishes are fulfilled”.

Originally from Kaneohe, Oahu, Ashley has lived in Waimea since 2019. Ashley is currently attending the University of Hawaii at Hilo, studying psychology and criminal justice. When not working or studying, she enjoys spearfishing and being outdoors. She’s a mom of four and appreciates spending time at the beach with her family.