Maile Marie Hirota

Maile Marie Hirota began her legal career in Ohio as an associate at Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, a prominent Cincinnati law firm. After two years of practicing immigration law in Ohio, she returned to Hawaii in 1997 to join Lynch & Farmer. By 2002, she was named a partner at Lynch Ichida Thompson Kim & Hirota and later established Hirota & Associates in 2009. Her practice is exclusively focused on U.S. Immigration and Nationality law.

Ms. Hirota is actively involved with the American Immigration Lawyers Association, serving in various leadership roles such as Hawaii Chapter Chair from 2012 to 2014 and 2003 to 2005, Vice Chair & Treasurer from 2011 to 2012, and other committee positions. Her national roles include being part of the National EOIR Liaison Committee from 2007 to 2008 and serving as a National Mentor for the Honolulu District Office practice since 2003.

Her professional contributions extend to the American Immigration Council, where she was on the Legal Action Center Advisory Committee from 2007 to 2010. Ms. Hirota is also a lifetime member of the Japan-America Society of Hawaii and has been a director of the Dr. Arthur & Bonnie Ennis Foundation since 2004. She participated in the Hawaii Pacific University Career Services Advisory Council from 2006 to 2008 and is affiliated with Hawaii Women Lawyers.

Her peers have consistently recognized her excellence, naming her among the Best Lawyers in America in Immigration Law annually since 2008. Additionally, she was honored as the Best Lawyers’ Honolulu Immigration Law “Lawyer of the Year” in both 2018 and 2015.