- Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, face a lawsuit over their alleged role in removing two partners from a $240M Hawaii housing project.
- Developer Kevin Hayes and broker Tomoko Matsumoto claim Ohtani used his celebrity influence to pressure Kingsbarn Realty Capital into cutting them out.
- The dispute follows Ohtani’s clearance in a high-profile gambling case involving his former translator.
Bisnow reports that Shohei Ohtani is again in the headlines—this time for a luxury real estate battle. A Hawaii developer and a broker claim the Los Angeles Dodgers star and his agent pushed them out of a $240M project on the Big Island. The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort promoted Ohtani as both its first resident and its celebrity brand ambassador.
The Dispute
Kevin Hayes and Tomoko Matsumoto say they spent over a decade developing the concept for the 14-home luxury estate. In 2023, they brought Ohtani into the project to raise its profile. They claim his role was limited to marketing and branding, but soon after joining, Ohtani and Balelo began demanding concessions.
According to the lawsuit, those demands increased over time. Hayes and Matsumoto allege Ohtani and Balelo pressured Kingsbarn Realty Capital—their investment partner—to remove them from the venture entirely. The two say Kingsbarn dismissed them in July 2025, choosing its relationship with Ohtani over honoring existing agreements.
They describe the ouster as a “coordinated ambush” that cost them millions in potential commissions, homebuilding profits, and management fees.
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The Project
The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort sits on 17 acres with sweeping ocean views. The plan calls for 14 luxury homes priced between $17M and $20M each. When the project launched in April 2024, only 12 homesites were available. One was already in escrow, and Ohtani had secured another for himself.
Marketing materials promoted Ohtani as the community’s first resident. They also promised he would build a small hitting and pitching facility for offseason training. A now-deleted project website stated Ohtani planned to spend significant time at the property each offseason.
Background
Ohtani’s name has appeared in off-field controversies before. In 2024, he was linked to a gambling scandal involving his longtime interpreter. Federal investigators cleared him of wrongdoing, but the interpreter received a sentence of nearly five years for fraud.
Why It Matters
Celebrity endorsements can add instant prestige and marketing power to luxury real estate developments. They often lead to higher asking prices and faster sales. But they also bring risk, especially when celebrity partners have influence over business decisions. The Ohtani dispute shows how quickly relationships can sour when control and profit distribution come into question.
