NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 09-APR-2025 08:07 AM Dkt. 47 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
IN THE INTEREST OF F.G.
APPEAL FROM THE FAMILY COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (FC-S NO. 23-00093)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Acting Chief Judge, Hiraoka and Nakasone, JJ.)
Mother-Appellant (Mother) appeals from the October 16,
2024 Orders Concerning Child Protective Act [(CPA)] (Order
Terminating Jurisdiction) entered by the Family Court of the
First Circuit (Family Court).1 In the Order Terminating
Jurisdiction, the Family Court (a) ruled that Father-Appellee (Father) was able to provide the subject child (born in early
2018), F.G. (FG or Child), with a safe family home, (b) revoked
Petitioner-Appellee Department of Human Services's (DHS's)
foster custody of FG, terminated the Family Court's jurisdiction
over the CPA proceeding, and (c) denied Mother's motion
requesting FG be placed with Mother under family supervision.
Mother also challenges Findings of Fact (FOFs) 91, 95, 97, 110,
1 The Honorable Jessi L.K. Hall presided. NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
122, 123, 125, 126, and 131 set forth in the Family Court's
December 4, 2024 Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.
In her points of error on appeal (and argument), Mother
contends that the Family Court erred and abused its discretion in
the Order Terminating Jurisdiction because (a) DHS failed to
provide a reasonable opportunity for Mother to reunite with
Child, and (b) the Family Court failed to grant Mother's request
that FG be returned to her custody under family supervision.
Upon careful review of the record and the briefs submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to
the arguments advanced and the issues raised, we resolve Mother's
points of error as follows:
On November 6, 2023, Mother was escorted by police off
the premises of the Child and Family Domestic Violence Shelter
because she was in possession of alcohol, heavily intoxicated,
and non-compliant with police. Mother was staying at the shelter
with two of her minor children, FG and H.G. (Children), who was
almost two years old (HG). Shelter staff repeatedly observed
Mother in possession of alcohol, neglecting the children,
remaining in her bedroom while the children played or wandered
outside. Shelter staff informed DHS that HG was seen in soiled
diapers, dirty, and barefoot most of the time, with the five-
year-old FG attempting to care for the younger sibling.
On November 13, 2023, DHS filed a petition for
temporary foster custody, alleging "Mother suffers from a mental
illness and that affects her ability to supervise, protect, or
care for Children." The Children were previously placed in
protective custody with DHS in November 2022 and May 2023.
2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
During a DHS safety assessment of Mother on November 7, 2023,
Mother reported she had not been taking her medications, and
admitted regular alcohol consumption. In its Safe Family Home
Report dated November 13, 2023, DHS determined the children
needed temporary foster custody for their protection.
The Family Court heard the petition for temporary
foster custody on November 15, 2023. Temporary foster custody of
HG was revoked after the Family Court found that HG's father was
willing and able to provide a safe family home without the assistance of a service plan. After previously refusing to
disclose FG's father, at the November 15, 2023 hearing, Mother
identified Father as FG's father; Mother contested the petition
and requested a trial. The Family Court determined that
continued emergency temporary foster custody for FG was necessary
to protect FG from imminent harm, provided Mother with
court-appointed counsel, appointed Terrance Tom as guardian ad
litem (GAL) for FG, and set a contested hearing.
Thereafter, DHS searched for and contacted Father in
Iowa, who was not aware that he was FG's alleged father. An Iowa
agency completed a courtesy assessment of Father's home, and
Father agreed to genetic testing.
A further hearing was held on December 11, 2023.
Father appeared by Zoom, but had not yet been served or confirmed
as a parent. After taking testimony, the Family Court found that
Child had been harmed or threatened harm by Mother's acts or
omissions. The Family Court, inter alia, took jurisdiction,
awarded DHS foster custody over FG, and approved and ordered the
November 13, 2024 service plan.
3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
On January 8, 2024, the State of Hawai#i Child Support
Enforcement Agency (CSEA) initiated a separate family court
proceeding with the filing of a Petition for Parentage, which
sought to establish Father as FG's natural father (the Paternity
Case). At a February 16, 2024 hearing in the Paternity Case,
genetic testing was requested by Father and ordered by the Family
Court. Genetic test results were filed by CSEA on April 3, 2024,
indicating a 99.99% probability that Father was FG's father. A
Judgment of Paternity adjudicating Father as FG's natural father was entered on April 18, 2024. On June 21, 2024, Father filed a
post-judgment motion in the Paternity Case, requesting that he be
awarded the legal and physical custody of FG based on him being a
non-offending parent in the CPA case, as well as his ability to
provide FG with a safe family home.
In the CPA case, on June 24, 2024, Mother filed a
motion for immediate review seeking custody of FG with family
supervision. At a hearing in the CPA case on that date, Father
submitted to the court's jurisdiction and notified the court that
he was seeking custody. DHS informed the court that it was
comfortable placing FG with Father and terminating the court's jurisdiction. After further input from Mother and the GAL, the
Family Court allowed a two-week visit with Father, but denied
DHS's request for immediate placement with Father and case
closure. At a July 2024 hearing, Mother's motion for custody
with family supervision was continued.
At an October 14, 2024 hearing, the Family Court called
both the CPA case and the Paternity Case. A September 23, 2024
DHS Safe Family Home Report (SFH Report) was admitted into
4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
evidence. The SFH Report stated that although Mother "has made
significant effort towards addressing the concerns that
necessitated removal," she "has not resolved the safety issues in
the home and is unable to meet the conditions for return to
implement an in-home safety plan." The SFH Report also stated
Mother was "unable to demonstrate the ability to provide a safe
family home based on her inability to address the safety factors
that necessitated the removal."
The SFH Report further stated that (1) Father was a non-offending parent; (2) the State of Iowa completed a physical
assessment of the home and background checks of adult household
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 09-APR-2025 08:07 AM Dkt. 47 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
IN THE INTEREST OF F.G.
APPEAL FROM THE FAMILY COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (FC-S NO. 23-00093)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Leonard, Acting Chief Judge, Hiraoka and Nakasone, JJ.)
Mother-Appellant (Mother) appeals from the October 16,
2024 Orders Concerning Child Protective Act [(CPA)] (Order
Terminating Jurisdiction) entered by the Family Court of the
First Circuit (Family Court).1 In the Order Terminating
Jurisdiction, the Family Court (a) ruled that Father-Appellee (Father) was able to provide the subject child (born in early
2018), F.G. (FG or Child), with a safe family home, (b) revoked
Petitioner-Appellee Department of Human Services's (DHS's)
foster custody of FG, terminated the Family Court's jurisdiction
over the CPA proceeding, and (c) denied Mother's motion
requesting FG be placed with Mother under family supervision.
Mother also challenges Findings of Fact (FOFs) 91, 95, 97, 110,
1 The Honorable Jessi L.K. Hall presided. NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
122, 123, 125, 126, and 131 set forth in the Family Court's
December 4, 2024 Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.
In her points of error on appeal (and argument), Mother
contends that the Family Court erred and abused its discretion in
the Order Terminating Jurisdiction because (a) DHS failed to
provide a reasonable opportunity for Mother to reunite with
Child, and (b) the Family Court failed to grant Mother's request
that FG be returned to her custody under family supervision.
Upon careful review of the record and the briefs submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to
the arguments advanced and the issues raised, we resolve Mother's
points of error as follows:
On November 6, 2023, Mother was escorted by police off
the premises of the Child and Family Domestic Violence Shelter
because she was in possession of alcohol, heavily intoxicated,
and non-compliant with police. Mother was staying at the shelter
with two of her minor children, FG and H.G. (Children), who was
almost two years old (HG). Shelter staff repeatedly observed
Mother in possession of alcohol, neglecting the children,
remaining in her bedroom while the children played or wandered
outside. Shelter staff informed DHS that HG was seen in soiled
diapers, dirty, and barefoot most of the time, with the five-
year-old FG attempting to care for the younger sibling.
On November 13, 2023, DHS filed a petition for
temporary foster custody, alleging "Mother suffers from a mental
illness and that affects her ability to supervise, protect, or
care for Children." The Children were previously placed in
protective custody with DHS in November 2022 and May 2023.
2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
During a DHS safety assessment of Mother on November 7, 2023,
Mother reported she had not been taking her medications, and
admitted regular alcohol consumption. In its Safe Family Home
Report dated November 13, 2023, DHS determined the children
needed temporary foster custody for their protection.
The Family Court heard the petition for temporary
foster custody on November 15, 2023. Temporary foster custody of
HG was revoked after the Family Court found that HG's father was
willing and able to provide a safe family home without the assistance of a service plan. After previously refusing to
disclose FG's father, at the November 15, 2023 hearing, Mother
identified Father as FG's father; Mother contested the petition
and requested a trial. The Family Court determined that
continued emergency temporary foster custody for FG was necessary
to protect FG from imminent harm, provided Mother with
court-appointed counsel, appointed Terrance Tom as guardian ad
litem (GAL) for FG, and set a contested hearing.
Thereafter, DHS searched for and contacted Father in
Iowa, who was not aware that he was FG's alleged father. An Iowa
agency completed a courtesy assessment of Father's home, and
Father agreed to genetic testing.
A further hearing was held on December 11, 2023.
Father appeared by Zoom, but had not yet been served or confirmed
as a parent. After taking testimony, the Family Court found that
Child had been harmed or threatened harm by Mother's acts or
omissions. The Family Court, inter alia, took jurisdiction,
awarded DHS foster custody over FG, and approved and ordered the
November 13, 2024 service plan.
3 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
On January 8, 2024, the State of Hawai#i Child Support
Enforcement Agency (CSEA) initiated a separate family court
proceeding with the filing of a Petition for Parentage, which
sought to establish Father as FG's natural father (the Paternity
Case). At a February 16, 2024 hearing in the Paternity Case,
genetic testing was requested by Father and ordered by the Family
Court. Genetic test results were filed by CSEA on April 3, 2024,
indicating a 99.99% probability that Father was FG's father. A
Judgment of Paternity adjudicating Father as FG's natural father was entered on April 18, 2024. On June 21, 2024, Father filed a
post-judgment motion in the Paternity Case, requesting that he be
awarded the legal and physical custody of FG based on him being a
non-offending parent in the CPA case, as well as his ability to
provide FG with a safe family home.
In the CPA case, on June 24, 2024, Mother filed a
motion for immediate review seeking custody of FG with family
supervision. At a hearing in the CPA case on that date, Father
submitted to the court's jurisdiction and notified the court that
he was seeking custody. DHS informed the court that it was
comfortable placing FG with Father and terminating the court's jurisdiction. After further input from Mother and the GAL, the
Family Court allowed a two-week visit with Father, but denied
DHS's request for immediate placement with Father and case
closure. At a July 2024 hearing, Mother's motion for custody
with family supervision was continued.
At an October 14, 2024 hearing, the Family Court called
both the CPA case and the Paternity Case. A September 23, 2024
DHS Safe Family Home Report (SFH Report) was admitted into
4 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
evidence. The SFH Report stated that although Mother "has made
significant effort towards addressing the concerns that
necessitated removal," she "has not resolved the safety issues in
the home and is unable to meet the conditions for return to
implement an in-home safety plan." The SFH Report also stated
Mother was "unable to demonstrate the ability to provide a safe
family home based on her inability to address the safety factors
that necessitated the removal."
The SFH Report further stated that (1) Father was a non-offending parent; (2) the State of Iowa completed a physical
assessment of the home and background checks of adult household
members, and reported no concerns; and (3) Father was willing and
able to provide a safe family home without the assistance of a
service plan. DHS recommended FG be placed in Father's sole
physical custody. Mother argued against placement with Father.
After hearing from all parties, including the GAL, the Family
Court denied Mother's motion for immediate review, found that
Father was a non-offending parent who could provide FG with a
safe family home without the necessity of a service plan,
terminated foster custody over FG, and then terminated
jurisdiction in the CPA case.
In the Paternity Case, at the October 14, 2024 hearing,
Father was granted temporary physical and legal custody of FG,
including permission to transport FG to Father's home in Iowa.
An evidentiary hearing was set for November 25, 2024, with Mother
permitted daily FaceTime contact with FG in the interim. The
hearing was held on November 25, 2024, and Father was awarded
sole legal and physical custody. A status conference was held on
5 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
December 4, 2024, to determine and discuss visitation with
Mother. Orders were entered thereafter in the Paternity Case on
January 23, 2025, and January 28, 2025.
Mother timely filed her Notice of Appeal in this CPA
case on October 28, 2024. No appeal was taken in the Paternity
Case.
The purpose of the CPA, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS)
Chapter 587A, is "to provide children with prompt and ample
protection from the harms detailed herein, with an opportunity for timely reconciliation with their families if the families can
provide safe family homes[.]" HRS § 587A-2 (2018). HRS § 587A-7
(2018) lists fourteen factors which a court must consider in
determining whether a parent can provide a safe family home. HRS
§ 587A-30(b) (2018) provides in pertinent part: (b) At each periodic review hearing, the court shall review the status of the case to determine whether the child is receiving appropriate services and care, whether the case plan is being properly implemented, and whether the department's or authorized agency's activities are directed toward a permanent placement for the child. At the hearing, the court shall: (1) Determine whether the child is safe and enter orders: (A) That the child be placed in foster custody if the court finds that the child's remaining in the family home is contrary to the welfare of the child and the child's parents are not willing and able to provide a safe family home for the child, even with the assistance of a service plan;
(B) That the child be placed in family supervision if the court finds that the child's parents are willing and able to provide the child with a safe family home with the assistance of a service plan; or
(C) To terminate jurisdiction if the court finds that the child's parents are willing and able to provide the child with a safe family home without the assistance of a service plan.
6 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
(Emphasis added).
Many of Mother's challenges to the Family Court's FOFs
relate to Father's ability to provide a safe family home for FG
without the assistance of a service plan. We conclude that these
findings are based on substantial evidence in the record before
the Family Court, and Mother's arguments in effect challenge the
Family Court's weighing of that evidence, contending that more
evidence should have been required. However, Mother offers no
evidence of safety concerns as to Father and Mother does not challenge the many HRS § 587A-7 safe family home factors that the
Family Court fully considered before ultimately determining that
Father was willing and able to provide FG with a safe family home
without the assistance of a service plan. Although Mother had
made significant progress in addressing the issues that led to
DHS's emergency foster custody of FG, Mother did not argue or
provide evidence supporting that she was willing and able to
provide FG with a safe family home without the assistance of a
service plan.
Mother did not argue in the Family Court proceedings
that she was not given a reasonable opportunity to participate in
services to reunify, or that the services provided by DHS were
insufficient. Therefore, we will not consider those issues for
the first time on appeal. In any case, unchallenged FOFs
supported the Family Court's findings in this regard. Mother's
due process arguments are inconsistent with her failure to, for
example, make a timely request to cross-examine a report writer
or object to a report being admitted into evidence. Mother's due
process rights were also protected by the Family Court's taking
7 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
of evidence prior to ruling on Mother's motion for immediate
review, and by the hearing on the issue of Child's custody held
in the Paternity Case.
We conclude that, based on its well-supported finding
that Father was willing and able to provide FG with a safe family
home without the assistance of a service plan, the Family Court
properly terminated the CPA case in accordance with HRS
§ 587A-30(b)(1)(C).
For these reasons, the Family Court's October 16, 2024 Order Terminating Jurisdiction is affirmed.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawai#i, April 9, 2025.
On the briefs: /s/ Katherine G. Leonard Acting Chief Judge Herbert Y. Hamada, for Mother-Appellant. /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka Associate Judge Francis T. O'Brien, for Father-Appellee. /s/ Karen T. Nakasone Associate Judge Kurt J. Shimamoto, Julio C. Herrera, Erin K.S. Torres, Regina Anne M. Shimada, Deputy Attorneys General, Department of the Attorney General, for Petitioner-Appellee, Department of Human Services.