Kailua Kona, HI

Andrew M. Kennedy

In January 2018, Mr. Kennedy joined the law firm of Schlueter & Kwiat to expand the firm to Schlueter, Kwiat and Kennedy LLLP. Mr. Kennedy has been practicing law for over twenty years. He has experience in civil and criminal litigation. Mr. Kennedy has an active trial practice where he has tried cases ranging from simple assaults to murder and white collar matters such as public corruption. Mr. Kennedy has tried cases in state and federal courts in various jurisdictions. In 2024, Mr. Kennedy achieved a rare not guilty verdict for his client in USA v. Kaneshiro, et al. This federal bribery case alleged that a group of corporate executives and their attorney bribed the elected Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu to bring criminal charges against a former employee of their company. After months of trial it took a federal jury less than two days to return not guilty verdicts for all six defendants. Mr. Kennedy is currently a lawyer delegate to Hawai'i's annual United States District Court Judicial Conference, an invitation which was extended pursuant to vote from the judges of the U.S. District Court in 2022. Mr. Kennedy is currently a member of the State of Hawai'i Defender Council, having been appointed by Governor Josh Green to serve on the board responsible for overseeing the State of Hawai'i Office of The Public Defender. Mr. Kennedy has served multiple terms as president of the West Hawai'i Bar Association (2015, 2024). Mr. Kennedy has served as a Circuit Court criminal law representative to the State bench bar conference since 2015. Mr. Kennedy also serves as a criminal defense representative to the Hawai'i Standing Committee on Pattern Criminal Jury Instructions, a 15 member committee comprised of Hawai'i state court judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys tasked with reviewing and revising the state's pattern criminal jury instructions. Mr. Kennedy has argued in front of the Hawai'i Supreme Court a number of times. He successfully raised appellate issues at the trial level in State v. Thompson, 150 Hawai'i 262 (2021), a case challenging the procedure by which prosecutors initiate criminal complaints in Hawai'i. The Hawai'i Supreme Court's decision in State v. Thompson led to the dismissal of over one thousand criminal cases statewide and necessitated the legislature to enact statutory changes to address the issues raised by Mr. Kennedy. He also had a life sentence for attempted murder overturned in State v. Lauvao, et. al., 151 Hawai'i 430 (2022). Having sat for the bar exam in four states, Mr. Kennedy is licensed to practice law in Hawai'i, New York, Massachusetts (inactive), New Hampshire, the United States Supreme Court, and United States District Courts, Districts of Hawai'i, New Hampshire, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of New York, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Kennedy graduated from Villanova University, Villanova, PA (Bachelor of Arts - 1999), Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA (Juris Doctorate - 2002), and received a certificate of completion in the subjects of Comparative Criminal Procedure and Comparative Property Law from Magdalen College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (2001).

Michael H. Schlueter

The Firm's founding partner, Mr. Schlueter was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Schlueter started the Firm in 2014 after a lengthy tenure at the Kona Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. In addition to being a seasoned criminal defense attorney, Mr. Schlueter maintains an active family law and civil litigation case load. Mr. Schlueter represents Association of Apartment Owners (AOAO) in formulation of their organizations, regulatory compliance, foreclosure proceedings, and in litigation involving delinquent members. Mr. Schlueter represents plaintiffs and defendants in construction law litigation. Mr. Schlueter has a wide array of experience in the courtroom, including countless numbers of evidentiary hearings in Family Court and civil litigation matters, and jury and bench trials across many legal disciplines. Mr. Schlueter is a past president of the West Hawai'i Bar Association (2017) and currently serves as a Family Court delegate to the State of Hawai'i bench bar conference. Mr. Schlueter began his legal career in Cincinnati where he was an associate attorney with Lerner, Sampson & Rothfuss, L.P.A., appearing before the Federal Bankruptcy Courts in the Northern & Southern Districts of Ohio and the Eastern & Western Districts of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In 2006, Mr. Schlueter moved to Kailua-Kona and practiced law with Carlsmith Ball LLP, before joining the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Hawai'i. Michael served the people of the County of Hawai'i for over 7 years as a deputy prosecuting attorney with a focus on the prosecution of serious narcotic, drug trafficking and firearm cases as well as various other felony matters. Mr. Schlueter concluded his term with the prosecutor’s office as co-supervisor of the Kona office. Mr. Schlueter studied business administration and marketing at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, before graduating from the Gonzaga University School of Law in 2003. Mr. Schlueter is licensed to practice law in Hawai'i, Ohio, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Jason R. Kwiat

In 2015, after serving as a deputy prosecuting attorney for Hawaii County, Mr. Kwiat co-founded the law firm Schlueter & Kwiat. The firm later expanded, becoming Schlueter, Kwiat & Kennedy LLLP. This move marked a significant transition in Mr. Kwiat’s career, leveraging his substantial legal expertise to establish a practice with a broader legal focus. Mr. Kwiat’s legal journey began in 2009 at Carlsmith Ball LLP, where he honed his skills in civil litigation as an associate for two years. In September 2011, he transitioned to a role as a deputy prosecuting attorney for Hawaii County, dedicating four years to prosecuting a wide range of criminal cases, from misdemeanors to serious felonies including murder and sexual assault. Currently, Mr. Kwiat manages the firm’s personal injury and complex civil litigation cases, securing numerous significant settlements for clients, including a notable recovery of over one million dollars in a medical malpractice case in 2024. His criminal defense work is bolstered by his extensive trial experience, handling high-stakes cases involving serious charges as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. Additionally, Mr. Kwiat has achieved notable successes as an appellate attorney, with victories that include overturning a life sentence for murder in the case of State v. Smith. Mr. Kwiat was born in Oklahoma City and spent most of his youth in Shelbyville, Illinois. He graduated from Columbia College at the University of Missouri in 2005 and studied law at the Charlotte School of Law, graduating with the inaugural class in 2009. Following his graduation, he moved to Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i, joining his parents who have resided there since 2002. Mr. Kwiat is actively involved in the community. He has served as a Circuit Court criminal law representative at the State bench bar conference and helped establish the self-help desk at the Kona District Court. He also served as the West Hawai’i Director of the Young Lawyers’ Division of the Hawai’i State Bar Association from 2010-2011.

Eli N. Bowman

Mr. Bowman has been with the Firm since 2020. Mr. Bowman began his legal career with family law attorney Jo Kim, where he discovered a passion for advocacy and litigation. Mr. Bowman remains active in all areas of the Firm's practice, including criminal defense, family law, and complex civil litigation, including personal injury. Mr. Bowman was named partner in 2024. Mr. Bowman is a contributing author to the Hawai'i Rules of Evidence Manual. The Hawai'i Rules of Evidence Manual provides attorneys with extensive coverage of evidence rules in Hawai'i, and is frequently cited by the Hawai'i Supreme Court. Mr. Bowman graduated from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Arts - 2010) and is a proud Richardson attorney having graduated from University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law (Juris Doctorate - 2019). Mr. Bowman played collegiate soccer at the University of Redlands in Southern California prior to attending the University of Washington.

Nicole K. Bowman

Ms. Bowman joined the Firm in 2023 after spending four years with the County of Hawai'i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Ms. Bowman assists in all areas of the Firm's practice, including civil litigation, family law, and criminal defense. Ms. Bowman was born and raised on the island of Oahu. She graduated high school from Mid-Pacific Institute. Ms. Bowman graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (Bachelor of Arts - 2016), and graduated from University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law (Juris Doctorate - 2019).