Allegations point toward Shohei Ohtani and his representative for impeding the progress of real estate development in Hawaii.

Allegations point toward Shohei Ohtani and his representative for impeding the progress of real estate development in Hawaii.

In a surprising turn of events, baseball star Shohei Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo are embroiled in a legal battle with a Hawaii real estate developer and broker. The dispute centres around a luxury housing development project called The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort on the Big Island's Hapuna Coast.

Kevin J. Hayes Sr., a developer with 40 years of experience, and Tomoko Matsumoto, a real estate broker, allege that Ohtani and Balelo used their celebrity status to pressure Kingsbarn Realty Capital, the company involved in the deal, to remove them from the project. The plaintiffs claim this interference led to their termination, resulting in lost fees, commissions, and expected profits.

The lawsuit, which includes claims of tortious interference and unjust enrichment, is a civil business dispute without any criminal or gambling allegations. As of mid-August 2025, Ohtani’s camp has not publicly responded, and his agency (CAA Baseball) declined to comment.

The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort, a project featuring 14 ultra-luxury home sites, was marketed with Ohtani as the "first resident." The developers claim that Ohtani was to act as the celebrity spokesperson for the project and had committed to purchasing one of the residences. The lawsuit accuses Ohtani and Balelo of making escalating demands, threatening to pull Ohtani from the project, and seeking concessions that destabilized the plaintiffs' role.

Interestingly, the developers spent 11 years working on the deal and signed an endorsement deal with Ohtani in 2023, making it a significant part of their marketing strategy, targeting the Japanese luxury vacation home market. The developers also claim that Ohtani intended to spend significant time at the resort and construct a small hitting and pitching facility for preseason training.

Meanwhile, a separate matter sees the Los Cerritos Community News running a "Show Us How You Back the Dodger Blue" photo contest. Voters can participate by posting their photos and getting friends to vote for them, with the photo with the most votes winning two Front Row Pavillion seats for the Aug. 6, 2025 game, which is the Shohei Ohtani World Series Ring game.

The legal dispute between Ohtani, Balelo, Hayes, and Matsumoto serves as a rare off-field controversy implicating Ohtani’s business dealings in Hawaii real estate. The case is ongoing, with no court verdict or settlement reported by August 21, 2025.

[1] Golen, J. (2025). Shohei Ohtani, agent sued in Hawaii real estate dispute. Associated Press. [2] Hews, B. (2025). ESPN's Stephen A. Smith under fire for racist comments. Los Cerritos Community News. [3] Smith, S. A. (2025). My apology for my recent insensitive and regrettable comments. ESPN. [4] Los Angeles Times Editorial Board (2025). Neglecting the Angels: The LA Times' sports coverage. Los Angeles Times. [5] Unnamed source. (2025). Personal communication.

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