Arrested on Oahu? In Hawaii, DUI is called OVUII — and the clock is already running.
In Hawaii, drunk driving is charged as Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant (OVUII), and an arrest sets off two separate cases at once: the criminal charge in court and an administrative move against your driver's license through the ADLRO. You have only a few days to demand an ADLRO hearing, so the first call matters. The firms below all defend criminal and DUI cases in Honolulu's First Circuit courts and offer free consultations.
Honolulu criminal cases run from first-offense OVUII (Hawaii's term for DUI) and drug possession to assault, theft, domestic-abuse charges, and serious state and federal felonies. Two things make local experience valuable: a DUI arrest triggers a separate license case at the Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office (ADLRO) with a short deadline, and felonies are prosecuted in the First Circuit Court on Oahu. Every attorney below has a verifiable Honolulu criminal-defense practice and offers a free initial consultation.
How we picked these firms: We reviewed peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell), Avvo and Justia ratings, state-bar records, published results where available, and client review patterns. Firms that appeared consistently across at least two independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
These attorneys were selected from Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, and Best Lawyers listings and cross-referenced against Hawaii State Bar records and published case history. Misdemeanors and OVUII charges are heard in the District Court of the First Circuit; felonies are handled in the Circuit Court in Honolulu, with federal matters in the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii.
Practice focus: Felonies, OVUII/DUI, white-collar and federal defense, appeals
Why they made the list: A former prosecutor and defense attorney with more than 30 years in Hawaii courts, named a Super Lawyer every year from 2011 to 2026. Office at 1003 Bishop St, Suite 2150.
Practice focus: Serious felonies, federal criminal defense, appeals
Why they made the list: Birney Bervar has practiced criminal law since 1983 and has been named a Super Lawyer every year since 2008, with an established downtown Honolulu trial practice.
Practice focus: OVUII/DUI, drug charges, assault, repeat and underage DUI
Why they made the list: Victor Bakke is a former law clerk to the Hawaii Supreme Court who represents in-state, out-of-state, and underage DUI clients, including cases involving accidents and serious injury.
Practice focus: OVUII/DUI, firearms offenses, assault, federal defense
Why they made the list: More than 20 years of legal experience with a criminal-defense practice focused heavily on DUI and firearms cases, with free case evaluations.
Practice focus: Serious state and federal felonies, white-collar, complex litigation
Why they made the list: A veteran Honolulu defense lawyer who has handled some of the most complex and protracted criminal cases in Hawaii, representing both individuals and corporations.
Practice focus: OVUII/DUI, traffic offenses, misdemeanors
Why they made the list: A long-running Honolulu DUI and traffic-defense practice that reports representing more than 9,500 clients over its history.
Practice focus: DUI, drug offenses, and related charges
Why they made the list: Serving the Honolulu metro since 2005; Patrick McPherson is a member of the Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National College for DUI Defense.
Practice focus: DUI, traffic offenses, drug cases, personal injury
Why they made the list: More than 14 years handling DUI, traffic, and drug matters in Honolulu courts, with free initial consultations.
Practice focus: Criminal defense, DUI, and related family matters
Why they made the list: More than 35 years of trial experience defending clients against criminal charges across Hawaii.
Practice focus: Criminal law, DUI, and related family and injury matters
Why they made the list: A Honolulu attorney whose practice spans criminal defense, family law, and personal injury, listed in the major attorney directories.
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Request Free Consultation →DUI is called OVUII here. Hawaii charges drunk driving as Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant under HRS §291E-61. A first offense is usually a petty misdemeanor, but penalties climb fast with a high breath-alcohol reading, a refusal, or a prior.
Your license is a separate fight. An OVUII arrest triggers an automatic case at the Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office (ADLRO), which is independent of the criminal charge. You generally have only a few days to request a hearing to contest the revocation, so do not wait for your first court date.
Where your case is heard. Misdemeanors and OVUII charges go to the District Court of the First Circuit in Honolulu. Felonies are prosecuted in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit, and federal charges go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii.
Records can sometimes be cleared. Hawaii allows expungement in limited situations, such as an arrest that did not lead to a conviction. A defense lawyer can tell you whether your record qualifies and when.
Most Honolulu criminal-defense lawyers charge a flat fee for a defined matter, or bill hourly for complex or trial-bound cases. The ranges below are typical; the exact number depends on the charge, your record, and whether the case goes to trial.
| Fee or cost item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Misdemeanor or first-offense OVUII (flat fee) | Roughly $2,500 to $7,500 for a defined defense. |
| Felony defense | Roughly $7,500 to $25,000+, higher if the case goes to trial. |
| Hourly billing (complex cases) | About $200 to $450 per hour for attorneys who bill by the hour. |
| ADLRO license hearing | Sometimes billed separately, often a few hundred dollars up to around $1,500. |
| Free initial consultation | Standard across every firm on this list. |
Most criminal defense attorneys who show up on a Honolulu search are competent. A few are exceptional, and a handful are volume shops. Three checks separate them.
Scope match. A lawyer who handles your exact situation week in and week out is often a better fit than a big-name firm that hands your file to its most junior associate. Match the firm's size and focus to the size and stakes of your matter.
Direct contact. Get the lawyer who will actually do the work on the phone before you sign. If you cannot reach them before they have your signature, that is the level of access you will have for the whole case.
Written terms. Every firm here will give you a written fee agreement. Read it. The fee, the scope, who does the work, and what happens if you switch firms are all in there. Ambiguity on paper is ambiguity for the rest of the matter.
1. Get counsel before you talk. Anything you say to police can be used against you. Politely decline to answer questions and call a defense lawyer first.
2. Protect your license. If the charge is OVUII, request your ADLRO hearing within the short deadline. Missing it can cost you your license even if you beat the criminal case.
3. Arraignment and review. Your lawyer reviews the police report, the breath or blood evidence, and the stop itself for problems, then enters a plea and sets the case schedule.
4. Motions and negotiation. Many cases turn on a motion to suppress a bad stop or a faulty test. A strong motion can shrink or end the case, or improve any plea offer.
5. Trial if needed. If no acceptable resolution emerges, the case is tried in the First Circuit. A lawyer who genuinely tries cases holds more leverage even when the matter ultimately settles.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a dismissal, or an approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior name at intake, then never speak to them again while a junior or paralegal runs the file unsupervised. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. A reputable firm hands you the agreement in writing and lets you read it at home. High-pressure intake is the mark of a volume mill.
No verifiable track record. Look for verdicts, results, bar certifications, or peer recognition you can check. "We've helped thousands of clients" is marketing, not evidence.
Vague fees. Every legitimate Honolulu lawyer gives you a written fee agreement stating the structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you change firms.
Most firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring written questions, write down the answers, and compare at least two firms before you sign.
Hiring the lawyer is the start, not the finish. The firms that earn their reputation in Honolulu share a few habits worth holding yours to. They return calls and emails within a day or two, even if the answer is "no news yet." They explain each step before it happens, in plain language, so you are never guessing what comes next. They put the important things in writing, including the fee agreement, the strategy, and any offer, so nothing rests on a hallway conversation you might remember differently later.
Your job matters too. Keep one folder, paper or digital, with every document, bill, letter, and photo connected to your matter. Write down dates and names as things happen, because memory fades and details win cases. Tell your lawyer the bad facts as well as the good ones; surprises that surface later are far more damaging than anything you disclose up front. And be careful what you post on social media, because the other side will look, and a careless post can undercut an otherwise strong case.
If the relationship is not working, you are allowed to change firms. The rules let you switch counsel, and the fee is sorted out between the lawyers rather than charged to you twice. A good fit should leave you feeling informed and in control of your own decisions, not kept in the dark and pushed toward whatever closes the file fastest.
It stands for Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant — Hawaii's term for what most states call DUI or DWI. It covers alcohol and drugs and is charged under HRS §291E-61.
Most charge a flat fee: roughly $2,500 to $7,500 for a misdemeanor or first OVUII, and $7,500 to $25,000 or more for a felony. Complex cases may be billed hourly at about $200 to $450 per hour.
An arrest starts a separate administrative case at the ADLRO. You have only a few days to request a hearing to keep your license, which is why calling a lawyer immediately matters.
It is strongly advisable. Even a first offense carries license loss, fines, and a record, and a lawyer can challenge the stop, the testing, and the ADLRO action.
Most Honolulu cases resolve through motions or a negotiated plea, but a firm that is ready and willing to try the case tends to get better outcomes.
Hawaii allows expungement only in limited circumstances, most commonly arrests that did not result in a conviction. A lawyer can tell you whether your record qualifies.
No. Every firm on this list offers a free initial consultation.
Any paperwork from the arrest, your court date and case number, the ADLRO notice if it is a DUI, and a written timeline of what happened.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team