Shohei Ohtani, the famous Los Angeles Dodgers player, and his agent face allegations of thwarting a $240 million luxury property development project in Hawaii.
In a surprising turn of events, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, are facing a lawsuit from Hawaii real estate investors Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto. The lawsuit, filed in Hawaii Circuit Court, accuses Ohtani and Balelo of tortious interference and unjust enrichment [1][2][3][4].
The lawsuit alleges that Ohtani and Balelo pressured their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, to terminate the roles of Hayes and Matsumoto from a $240 million luxury housing development at The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort on Hawaii’s Hapuna Coast. The plaintiffs claim this move was a breach of their contractual agreements [1][2][3].
Ohtani was brought in as a celebrity endorser for the project, with the expectation that his presence would accelerate sales and help achieve pricing objectives, particularly among the Japanese market. The brochure for The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort refers to Ohtani as "Japan's Babe Ruth" and the "1st Resident," giving him top billing ahead of the Mauna Kea Resort [5].
As part of the endorsement deal, Ohtani was to act as the project's celebrity spokesperson and construct a small hitting and pitching facility for preseason training. In addition, Ohtani had plans to purchase one of the 14 residences within the project and spend significant time at The Vista during the off-season [6].
However, the lawsuit states that Ohtani and Balelo exploited their celebrity leverage to destabilize and dismantle the plaintiffs' role in the project. Balelo is accused of becoming a disruptive force, threatening to pull Ohtani from the deal if concessions weren't made [7].
The investment materials for The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort list Ohtani, Hayes, and Matsumoto as part of the management team. However, Kingsbarn fired Hayes and Matsumoto in a coordinated ambush, admitting that it was done solely to placate Balelo [8].
Attempts to reach Kingsbarn officials for comment were not immediately successful. A spokesman for Balelo's agency declined comment. As of August 2025, the lawsuit is active with no publicly reported outcome yet. The plaintiffs seek compensation for financial losses tied to the project after their removal, which they say was orchestrated by Ohtani and his agent for their own financial self-interest [1][3].
No official statements or resolutions have been reported from Ohtani, his agent, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, or the Dodgers organization.
[1] Hawaii Tribune-Herald [2] Pacific Business News [3] Honolulu Star-Advertiser [4] KITV4 [5] The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort brochure [6] Los Angeles Times [7] The Garden Island [8] West Hawaii Today
- Despite being a celebrity endorser for a luxury housing development, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, are accused of interfering with the roles of Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto in the same project, breaching their contractual agreements in the process.
- The lawsuit against Ohtani and Balelo suggests that they exploited their celebrity status to dismantle the plaintiffs' roles in the project at The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort, with Balelo acting as a disruptive force and threatening to pull Ohtani from the deal if concessions weren't made.
- The NBA, NFL, MLB, NCAA-Basketball, and other sports-analysis platforms have yet to comment on the ongoing legal issue involving baseball star Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, allegedly interfering with business partners in a luxury housing development project.
