About Matthew A
Matthew A Sylva built his legal foundations in Hawaii. He earned a J.D. in 2017 from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law. He also holds both a B.S. in Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, awarded in 2014. That blend of scientific study and reporting skills shaped a clear-eyed approach to facts and procedure.
While still in law school he took on a series of public-sector externships. In 2015 he spent a summer working with the State of Hawaiʻi Legislature. The next year he served as a law clerk extern for the State of Hawaiʻi Judiciary. He also led Students for Public Outreach and Civic Education (SPOCE) as president in 2016, a role that put him in contact with community groups and civic leaders across the islands.
After graduation he moved into public defense. He became a Deputy Public Defender III at the Office of the Public Defender in 2018. There he handled trial work and pretrial duties, appearing in state courts and managing caseloads that required quick legal research and courtroom readiness. The job offered repeated front-line experience in criminal proceedings and client advocacy.
In 2022 he opened Akamai Law, LLLC and took on the role of owner and lawyer. Running a small firm returned him to more individualized client work. He manages case strategy, files motions, and represents clients at hearings. The transition to private practice allowed him to combine trial experience from public defense with the organizational demands of running a law office.
Sylva maintains active bar membership in the State Bar of Hawaii and belongs to the West Hawaii Bar Association, both since 2018. Those memberships keep him connected to peers and local practice developments. His undergraduate background in journalism continues to inform how he prepares for court and communicates with clients. The plant and environmental sciences degree has also influenced his analytical approach to complex factual records.
Today he practices from Akamai Law, LLLC on Hawaii Island. He represents clients in criminal defense and related matters, bringing courtroom experience from his years as a public defender to his current work.
