Everett Ohta was named OHA General Counsel in July 2025. He started at OHA in 2010 as a compliance specialist and has steadily risen through the ranks, from lead compliance specialist to counsel for environmental law and native rights, legal counsel, senior legal counsel, and interim general counsel, starting in December 2021.
As the general counsel, he leads the OHA Corporate Counsel office, which provides legal advice, guidance, and assistance to OHA staff on compliance with federal, state, and county laws and regulations, as well as compliance with policies and procedures adopted by the OHA Board of Trustees and OHA Administration. The office is also responsible for risk management across the agency and navigating complex legal and governance matters for the agency.
A graduate of the University Laboratory School, Ohta holds bachelor’s degrees in global environmental science and economics from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a J.D. degree with an Environmental Law Certificate from the William S. Richardson School of Law at UH Mānoa.
