Shohei Ohtani Faces $240M Hawaii Real Estate Lawsuit Amid Dodgers Season
So, here’s what’s going on with Shohei Ohtani — and it’s not about his swing or his ERA. The Dodgers’ superstar, who’s been a huge force on the field, is now in the middle of a legal mess off it. A lawsuit has been filed in Hawaii claiming that Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, derailed a massive $240 million luxury housing development on Hawaii’s Hapuna Coast. And when I say massive, I mean years in the making — the developers had been working on this project for more than a decade before Ohtani was brought in to endorse it in 2023.
According to court documents, the plaintiffs — veteran developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto — say Ohtani and Balelo used their “celebrity leverage” to get them removed from the deal. The filing alleges that Balelo kept demanding concessions, and eventually pushed their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, to cut them out entirely. The language in the suit is sharp — it accuses the defendants of abuse of power, making threats, and destabilizing the project for personal gain. The developers want the court to hold Ohtani and Balelo accountable, insisting that fame should not shield anyone from following the rules of contracts and fair dealing.
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There’s also mention that this isn’t the only project they believe was sabotaged — a second venture was allegedly undermined too. And if that’s not enough to stir attention, the lawsuit includes Ohtani’s own words from a 2024 press release for the Vista at Mauna Kea Resort, where he talked about Hawaii as his “paradise” and announced he’d be building his winter home there. That public association with the project now sits in sharp contrast to the accusations swirling around it.
For Ohtani, the timing couldn’t be worse. The Dodgers are in the heat of the NL West race, and they’re defending last year’s World Series title. On the field, he’s having another big season — hitting .284 with 42 home runs and 78 RBIs — but off the field, this is his second brush with unwanted headlines in less than a year. Earlier, his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for stealing $17 million from Ohtani to pay off gambling debts.
Now, with this Hawaii lawsuit, Ohtani is again linked to controversy — and this time, it’s tied to a high-profile real estate battle that’s been years in the making. Whether this legal fight ends quickly or drags on, it’s a distraction no player wants during the stretch run of the season. The plaintiffs are making it clear: they want the court — and the public — to see this as a matter of principle, not celebrity. And for Ohtani, the spotlight just got a lot brighter for all the wrong reasons.
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