Really dude, go ask corporate attorneys who go up against that bunch at Cronin Fried about competent attorneys.  There are many in Hawaii including the guys and gals at Carlsmith, Ashford and the Kobayashi firm who practice national and internationally.  The partners at these firms make almost as much as their mainland counterparts although the associates make less.  The guys is DC make their money two ways, administrative law and personal representation, they charge high hourly rates because their clients can afford them.  LA and New York attorneys are heavily involved in finance, insurance and real estate, again they make high hourly rates because their clients can afford to and yes they pay.  The guys in Hawaii who are waiting on receivables are the per diem criminal attorneys and other bottom of the food chain attorneys.  Yes LA and DC have a whole bunch more of those kinds of bottom feeding attorneys as well.