Ohtani, Balelo linked to suit over Vista at Mauna Kea project

A Hawaii Circuit Court case centers on Shohei Ohtani and his longtime agent, Nez Balelo, amid allegations that they helped push two local developers and a broker out of a $240 million luxury housing project on the Hapuna Coast at Mauna Kea Resort. The lawsuit, brought by Kevin Hayes Sr. and Tomoko Matsumoto, accuses the Dodgers’ two-way star and Balelo of tortious interference and unjust enrichment, arguing that the celebrity’s influence was used to destabilize the venture and deprive the plaintiffs of the project they built. The development, The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort, planned 14 beachfront residences with prices cited in the vicinity of roughly $17 million each, and Ohtani was positioned as a celebrity spokesperson and a prospective buyer, signaling the project’s high-profile ambitions.

The plaintiffs contend that Balelo repeatedly demanded concessions from Hayes and Matsumoto before pressuring a joint partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, to sever ties with the duo. They allege that Balelo’s influence grew over two years, eventually culminating in a “coordinated ambush” that led Kingsbarn to terminate Hayes and Matsumoto. The suit also asserts that the terminations were...