About Scott
Scott A — Makuakane is an esteemed estate planning attorney based in Honolulu, Hawaii. With a legal career spanning over four decades, he has been practicing law since 1983. His areas of focus include estate planning, trust and estate administration, asset protection, estate and gift taxation, and probate. Makuakane earned his Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii in 1983. Prior to that, he completed his Bachelor of Arts at Duke University in 1979.
Makuakane is admitted to practice in several courts, including the Hawaii Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, the U.S. Tax Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court. His extensive legal background is complemented by active membership in the Hawaii State Bar Association. He has held leadership positions, serving as past president of the Probate & Estate Planning Section, the Estate & Gift Tax Committee, and the Senior Counsel Division.
His involvement in the legal community extends to the Christian Legal Society of Hawaii, where he has also served as president, and the Financial Planning Association of Hawaii. In 2011, Makuakane founded Est8Planning Counsel LLLC, a Honolulu-based firm dedicated to estate planning and trust law. The firm provides a comprehensive range of services, including elder law, asset preservation, special needs planning, charitable planning, estate litigation, and probate/trust administration. Under his leadership, Est8Planning Counsel has become a trusted resource for individuals and families navigating complex estate planning issues. Makuakane is also a published author, having written "Est8Planning for Geniuses," a book designed to demystify estate planning for a general audience. His expertise has earned him an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell since 1993, evidence of his high ethical standards and professional excellence.
Furthermore, he is a trained mediator, having completed programs through the Mediation Center of the Pacific and Peacemaker Ministries, which enhances his ability to resolve disputes amicably. Beyond his professional commitments, Makuakane contributes to the community through regular articles in Generations magazine, where he discusses various estate planning topics. He is also a sought-after lecturer for both professional and community groups. Residing in Kailua, Hawaii, with his wife and son, he actively participates in his local church as an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu at Ko`olau. With 43 years of legal experience, Scott A — Makuakane remains a prominent figure in the estate planning landscape of Hawaii.
