DL v. CL ( 2022 )


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  •   NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER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
    28-FEB-2022
    08:02 AM
    Dkt. 118 MO
    NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
    IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
    OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
    DL, Plaintiff-Appellant, v.
    CL, Defendant-Appellee
    APPEAL FROM THE FAMILY COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT
    (FC-D NO. 16-1-1014)
    MEMORANDUM OPINION
    (By: Wadsworth, Presiding Judge, and Nakasone and McCullen, JJ.)
    This appeal arises out of a custody dispute related to
    divorce proceedings between Plaintiff-Appellant DL (Father) and
    self-represented Defendant-Appellee CL (Mother).           Father appeals
    from the "Order Re: Joint Evidentiary Hearing of August 28,
    2020" (Order), entered on September 3, 2020, in the Family Court
    of the First Circuit (Family Court).1/
    On appeal, Father contends that: (1) the Family Court
    erred in declining to exercise its exclusive, continuing
    jurisdiction over this case and in relinquishing jurisdiction to
    the State of Arizona; and (2) the Family Court erred in not
    addressing Father's request that the court confirm that Father
    had rebutted any presumption against custody before relinquishing
    jurisdiction to Arizona. Father also argues that any further
    matters in this case should be heard by a different judge.
    For the reasons explained below, we vacate the Order.
    1/
    The Honorable Gale L.F. Ching presided.
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
    I.   Background
    This case has a long history. See DL v. CL, No. SCWC-
    XX-XXXXXXX, 
    2022 WL 263219
    , at *1-4 (Haw. Jan. 28, 2022) (mem.
    op.) (DL IV), aff'g in part and vacating in part No. CAAP-18-
    0000704, 
    2021 WL 1614343
     (Haw. App. April 26, 2021) (mem. op.).
    We last summarized the factual and procedural background prior to
    mid-2018 as follows:
    Father and [Mother] . . . married in 2008. They have two
    minor children (Children). In 2015, Father, Mother, and
    Children moved from California to Hawai#i. They lived in a
    cottage on Father's parents' property. DL v. CL, 146
    Hawai#i 415, 417, 
    463 P.3d 1072
    , 1074 (2020) (DL III).
    On July 10, 2016, Mother took Children with her to Arizona
    due to family abuse by Father. DL III at 417, 463 P.3d at
    1074. Mother filed for divorce in Arizona. On August 3,
    2016, Father filed for divorce in Hawai#i. Mother's Arizona
    petition was eventually dismissed.
    . . . .
    The divorce trial began on July 31, 2017, and ended on
    January 9, 2018. Mother returned to Arizona shortly after
    the divorce trial ended to start a new job. DL III at 417,
    463 P.3d at 1074. Children remained in Hawai #i with Father
    because the family court had not yet ruled on post-decree
    child custody or relocation.
    On March 26, 2018 (before entry of the divorce decree),
    Father filed a notice of appeal from pre-decree orders
    awarding Mother sole physical custody of Children and
    permitting Children's relocation to Arizona. We affirmed.
    DL v. CL, No. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, 
    2019 WL 968052
     (Haw. App.
    Feb. 28, 2019) (SDO). Father petitioned for certiorari.
    The supreme court affirmed. DL v. CL, 146 Hawai #i 328, 
    463 P.3d 985
     (2020) (DL I).
    Meanwhile, the family court entered the Divorce Decree on
    April 26, 2018. The decree: (1) dissolved the marriage;
    (2) awarded legal custody of the Children jointly to Father
    and Mother, physical custody solely to Mother (authorizing
    Children to relocate to Arizona after July 1, 2018), 2/ and
    future child support to Mother; and (3) divided and
    distributed Father's and Mother's property and debts. . . .
    Father then filed a second notice of appeal, from the
    Divorce Decree and other orders. We affirmed the family
    court's child custody and support decisions . . . . DL v.
    CL, No. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, 
    2019 WL 4934660
     (Haw. App. Oct. 7,
    2019) (SDO) (DL II). Father's petition for writ of
    certiorari was dismissed. DL v. CL, No. SCWC-XX-XXXXXXX,
    
    2020 WL 2070350
    , at *1 (Haw. Apr. 29, 2020).
    
    2021 WL 1614343
    , at *1-2 (footnote added).
    2/
    The family court also gave Mother "tie breaking authority" over
    legal custody issues concerning the Children.
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    As relevant to the present appeal, on July 2, 2020,
    Father filed a motion to adjust legal and physical custody of the
    Children (Motion to Adjust Custody), along with an ex parte
    motion to shorten time to hear the motion (Motion to Shorten
    Time).   At that time, the Children were visiting Father in
    Hawai#i. Father's motion sought a Family Court order "permitting
    the Children to remain with Father in Hawaii, rather than
    returning to Phoenix, Arizona," based on Father's argument that
    Phoenix "has become a global epicenter of the coronavirus
    pandemic and is worsening by the day."
    On July 7 and 8, 2020, respectively, Mother filed an
    opposition and a supplemental opposition to Father's Motion to
    Shorten Time. Mother argued that the Family Court lacked
    jurisdiction to hear Father's Motion to Shorten Time and the
    underlying Motion to Adjust Custody. Mother requested that the
    Family Court "deny Father's . . . Motion to Shorten Time and the
    Underlying Motion based on the fact that Arizona is now the
    Children's home state." Alternatively, Mother requested "that
    the Hawaii Judge confer with the Arizona judge in order for the
    judges to decide which state will exercise jurisdiction."
    The Family Court heard Father's Motion to Adjust
    Custody on July 13, 2020. During the hearing, Mother asserted
    that "the Hawaii court even lacks jurisdiction to hear this
    motion[.]" Mother further asserted that she had registered the
    Divorce Decree in Arizona, the children had lived in Arizona for
    two years, the Arizona court had accepted jurisdiction over
    financial issues, and she had "asked them to accept jurisdiction
    over custody issues through a motion to modify legal decision
    making, legal custody, that was filed in October 2019." Mother
    requested that the Family Court "send the children home, and
    dismiss this motion for lack, you know, with leave to refile once
    jurisdiction is sorted out, whether it's Arizona or Hawaii, but
    the children have lived in Arizona for over two years."
    Father argued that pursuant to the Uniform Child
    Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), see infra,
    Hawai#i has continuing exclusive jurisdiction. Father maintained
    that Mother "has not done anything she needs to do . . . to have
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    jurisdiction being changed from Hawaii to Arizona. The process
    isn't just to file in Arizona and then -- and then mention it to
    you when [Father] files a motion here."
    The Family Court expressed concerns about inconsistent
    decisions and stated, "[W]e now have two Courts involved in this
    matter, the Hawaii Court and the Arizona Court." The Family
    Court further stated that it would contact the Arizona court so
    that "the Court can have a discussion . . . concerning whether or
    not an evidentiary hearing should be held on jurisdiction. . . ."
    The Family Court then took the Motion to Adjust Custody under
    advisement and ordered that "the children will remain in Hawaii
    until further order of the Court."
    On July 29, 2020, the Family Court issued a "Notice
    Setting Joint Evidentiary Hearing." The notice stated that "a
    Joint Evidentiary Hearing is scheduled with the Honorable Joseph
    Kiefer of Maricopa [County], Arizona. . . concerning the issue of
    Jurisdiction." The notice set deadlines for the parties to file
    briefs.
    On August 3, 2020, Father filed "Plaintiff's Brief Re:
    'Issue of Jurisdiction,'" contending that Hawai#i has exclusive
    continuing jurisdiction over custody issues pursuant to the
    UCCJEA and listing the parties' various motions pending in
    Hawai#i and Arizona courts. Father also set out the children's
    connections with Hawai#i and the fact that Father still resides
    in Hawai#i. After asserting that neither prong of the statutory
    test for Hawai#i "to lose jurisdiction" could be met (see infra),
    Father argued, "[n]or would it be appropriate for this Court to
    decline to exercise its jurisdiction over Father's Motion."
    Father further argued: "No motion has been [made] for this Court
    to decline to exercise its jurisdiction and to allow Arizona to
    modify any determination made by this Court. And, even if such a
    motion had been made, it would be overwhelmingly inappropriate
    under the circumstances." Mother did not file a brief or motion
    in advance of the joint evidentiary hearing.
    On August 22, 2020, the Family Court rescheduled the
    joint evidentiary hearing for August 28, 2020. On August 26,
    2020, Father filed a motion for the immediate termination of
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    Mother's tie-breaking authority and to allow the Children to be
    enrolled in Hawai#i school (Motion to Terminate Tie-Breaking
    Authority).3/
    On August 28, 2020, the Family Court held a joint
    evidentiary hearing with the parties and the Arizona court. At
    the outset, Father stated, "[I]t's unclear why we are here today
    and why we are discussing jurisdiction. [Mother] has not filed
    anything with this Court regarding today's joint evidentiary
    hearing." Father further stated:
    [I]n response to [Father's] July 13 [sic] motion, which is
    all about the kids remaining here in Hawaii, [Mother] asked
    you to not make a decision. But she did not give any valid
    UCCJEA based reason why you shouldn't make a decision.
    So we are here today and being asked to provide
    evidence in a matter that we have neither read a motion nor
    have we seen any brief. We don't understand what the issue
    is that we are arguing today.
    Mother replied in part: "In response to Father's motion to
    change physical and legal custody, I filed two oppositions, and I
    noted that I --(inaudible) -- as I believe that Arizona now has
    jurisdiction. And I asked Hawaii to not exercise jurisdiction on
    that basis."
    As to notice, the Family Court concluded:
    The Court's recollection of the last hearing that we had
    with the parties was that there was a question concerning
    jurisdiction now that the Court was then informed of Arizona
    being involved. So the Court did inform everyone that we
    would be holding an evidentiary hearing with the Arizona
    court on the question of jurisdiction. So the Court finds
    that there was adequate notice to everyone.
    The evidentiary portion of the hearing proceeded with
    both Mother and Father testifying. Following testimony, the
    Family Court and the Arizona court temporarily exited the
    conference to confer.
    After a recess, the Family Court stated:
    The Court has had an opportunity to confer with the Arizona
    court. The court will make the following orders based on
    the evidence and the arguments that were presented.
    3/
    It appears Mother had contacted Noelani and Punahou schools to
    inform them that she did "not consent to the children being registered to
    attend" and that pursuant to the Divorce Decree, she had "tie-breaking
    authority for legal decision making so [Father] cannot register them without
    my consent."
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    The Court does not find significant connections with
    Hawaii at the present time. Based on the evidence, the
    Court is not going to continue exclusive and continuing
    jurisdiction in Hawaii. The Court will relinquish
    jurisdiction and allow Arizona to proceed with this matter
    with the exception of the one matter dealing with the remand
    issue on the issue of child support.
    The Family Court then denied Father's Motion to Adjust Custody
    and Motion to Terminate Tie-Breaking Authority, without prejudice
    to Father refiling the motions in Arizona. The Family Court
    ordered "that the children be returned immediately to Mother."
    Father requested that the Family Court "make a finding
    in conjunction with your decision today that [Father] does not
    now pose a danger nor a safety risk to the minor children." The
    Family Court responded, "the record will -- as it stands will
    speak for itself." The Family Court then added:
    [I]n addition to the earlier basis and ruling, the Court
    also does cite [Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) §] 583A-207,
    inconvenient forum. The Court also finds that even if the
    Court were to exercise jurisdiction, that it would be an
    inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that another
    court, specifically Arizona, would be a more appropriate
    forum. So that's incorporated into the Court's ruling.
    On September 3, 2020, the Family Court entered the
    Order.   The Order stated, in relevant part:
    Findings of Fact [(FOFs)]
    1.    [Father] and [Mother] are the parents of minors
    . . . (collectively hereinafter "Minor
    Children").
    2.    A "Decree Of Divorce" was entered and filed on
    or about April 26, 2018.
    3.    The Decree Of Divorce awarded [Father] and
    [Mother] with joint legal custody with [Mother]
    having "tie-breaking authority" and [Mother]
    with sole physical custody of the Minor
    Children.
    4.    Since approximately 2018, [Mother] and the Minor
    Children have been living in Arizona.
    5.    In approximately, January 2019 [Mother]
    registered the Hawaii Divorce Decree in the
    State of Arizona.
    6.    The Hawaii Appellate Court had affirmed the
    earlier Family Court's order allowing [Mother]
    and the Minor Children to relocate to
    Arizona. . . .
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    7.     [Mother] has a support system in the Arizona
    area where she resides with the Minor Children
    as she has relatives that lives [sic] in the
    same general area.
    8.     Since approximately 2018, the Minor Children
    have been enrolled in and have attended schools
    located in the Arizona area where [Mother]
    resides.
    9.     The Minor Children have been seen by their
    Physicians in the Arizona area.
    10.    The Minor Children have participated in extra
    curricular activities in Arizona.
    11.    [Mother] is employed as an attorney in Arizona
    and earns substantial income . . . .
    12.    [Father] is a self employed attorney whose
    income is substantially less than that of
    [Mother].
    13.    The State Of Arizona is determined to be a more
    convenient venue to now address issues
    concerning the Parties and the Minor Children.
    Based on the Findings Of Fact, the Court makes the
    following Conclusions Of Law:
    Conclusions Of Law [(COLs)]
    1.     At present, the State Of Hawaii has jurisdiction
    over this matter, but the State Of Arizona is
    determined to be a more appropriate forum to
    address pending and future issues involving the
    Parties and the Minor Children.
    2.     The State Of Hawaii declines and relinquishes
    jurisdiction over this matter to the State Of
    Arizona with the exception of the State Of
    Hawaii having to address certain issues for
    final disposition as had been directed by the
    Hawaii Appellate Courts.
    3.     Hawaii is determined to be an inconvenient forum
    under the circumstances and that the State Of
    Arizona is found to be a more appropriate forum
    to address the Parties' present and future
    issues. See Section 583A-207 of the Hawaii
    Revised Statutes.
    Based on the above Findings Of Facts and Conclusions
    Of Law, the Court makes the following Orders:
    1.     The State Of Hawaii declines to exercise
    jurisdiction over this matter and relinquishes
    jurisdiction over to the State Of Arizona, and
    2.     The State Of Arizona shall assume jurisdiction
    over this matter with the exception of the State
    Of Hawaii Courts having to address certain
    issues for final disposition as earlier directed
    by the Hawaii Appellate Courts.
    (Footnotes omitted.)     This appeal followed.
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    II.   Discussion
    Father contends that the Family Court erred in
    declining to exercise its jurisdiction over this case and in
    relinquishing jurisdiction to the State of Arizona. Father
    argues in part that Hawai#i has exclusive continuing jurisdiction
    over its child custody orders, pursuant to HRS § 583A-202(a), and
    the Family Court failed to consider all relevant factors and to
    make sufficient findings, pursuant to HRS § 583A-207, to support
    the court's decision to decline jurisdiction.
    The UCCJEA "governs jurisdictional issues that arise in
    interstate child custody proceedings and is codified in Hawai#i
    in HRS chapter 583A." MJ v. CR, 150 Hawai#i 23, 30, 
    496 P.3d 501
    , 508 (App. 2021) (quoting NB v. GA, 133 Hawai#i 436, 440, 
    329 P.3d 341
    , 345 (App. 2014)). As relevant here, HRS § 583A–202
    (2018) provides, in relevant part:
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in section 583A–204,
    a court of this State which has made a child-custody
    determination consistent with section 583A–201 or 583A–203
    has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the
    determination until:
    (1)   A court of this State determines that the child,
    the child's parents, and any person acting as a
    parent do not have a significant connection with
    this State and that substantial evidence is no
    longer available in this State concerning the
    child's care, protection, training, and personal
    relationships; or
    (2    A court of this State or a court of another
    state determines that the child, the child's
    parents, and any person acting as a parent do
    not presently reside in this State.
    The parties do not dispute that the Family Court made
    child-custody determinations in the underlying divorce proceeding
    consistent with HRS § 583A–201. The Family Court thus had
    exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over those determinations when
    Father filed motions seeking to modify them during the summer of
    2020. Indeed, the Family Court correctly acknowledged its
    jurisdiction in COL 1. This jurisdiction would continue "until
    the Family Court explicitly declined jurisdiction or none of the
    parties remained in Hawai#i." NB, 133 Hawai#i at 442, 329 P.3d at
    347 (citing Beam v. Beam, 126 Hawai#i 58, 60–61, 
    266 P.3d 466
    ,
    468–69 (App. 2011) ("When a Hawai#i court properly asserts
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    jurisdiction and makes an initial child custody determination,
    that court retains 'exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the
    determination.'" (quoting HRS § 583A–202))).
    The Order makes clear that the Family Court declined
    jurisdiction "over this matter" based on the court's
    determination, pursuant to HRS § 583A–207, that Hawai#i is an
    "inconvenient forum."4/ The court expressly referenced section
    583A–207 in COL 3. In contrast, the court made no reference to
    HRS § 583A–202 in the Order, and did not include necessary
    findings to support a determination that the court no longer had
    jurisdiction under parts (1) or (2) of that section.
    HRS § 583A-207 (2018) states, in relevant part:
    (a) A court of this State which has jurisdiction under
    this chapter to make a child-custody determination may
    decline to exercise its jurisdiction at any time if it
    determines that it is an inconvenient forum under the
    circumstances and that a court of another state is a more
    appropriate forum. The issue of inconvenient forum may be
    raised upon the motion of a party, the court's own motion,
    or request of another court.
    (b) Before determining whether it is an inconvenient
    forum, a court of this State shall consider whether it is
    appropriate for a court of another state to exercise
    jurisdiction. For this purpose, the court shall allow the
    parties to submit information and shall consider all
    relevant factors, including:
    (1)   Whether domestic violence has occurred and is
    likely to continue in the future and which state
    could best protect the parties and the child;
    (2)   The length of time the child has resided outside
    this State;
    (3)   The distance between the court in this State and
    the court in the state that would assume
    jurisdiction;
    (4)   The relative financial circumstances of the
    parties;
    (5)   Any agreement of the parties as to which state
    should assume jurisdiction;
    (6)   The nature and location of the evidence required
    to resolve the pending litigation, including
    testimony of the child;
    (7)   The ability of the court of each state to decide
    the issue expeditiously and the procedures
    necessary to present the evidence;
    4/
    "[A] trial court's written order controls over its oral
    statements."     State v. Milne, 149 Hawai#i 329, 335, 
    489 P.3d 433
    , 439 (2021).
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    (8)   The familiarity of the court of each state with
    the facts and issues in the pending litigation;
    and
    (9)   The physical and psychological health of the
    parties.
    "A family court's decision to decline jurisdiction
    [under HRS § 583A-207] is reviewed for abuse of discretion." NB,
    133 Hawai#i at 444, 329 P.3d at 349 (citing Fisher v. Fisher, 111
    Hawai#i 41, 46, 
    137 P.3d 355
    , 360 (2006)). In NB, we concluded
    that we could not properly determine whether the family court
    abused its discretion in declining jurisdiction, where the court
    had not made findings regarding any of the factors listed in HRS
    § 583A-207(b). Id. We explained in NB:
    The language of Section 207 states that a court "shall
    consider all relevant factors" and "allow the parties to
    submit information". [HRS] § 583A–207(b). Numerous other
    jurisdictions have held that where a court declines
    jurisdiction without considering all of the statutory
    factors in its equivalent of subsection (b) of Section 207,
    or allowing the parties to present facts or arguments, it
    constitutes an abuse of discretion.
    Id. (citing several cases); see also In re McAndrews, 
    193 A.3d 834
    , 841 (N.H. 2018) ("The trial court's failure to provide a
    meaningful analysis of the factors that it relied upon in
    reaching its conclusion and its failure to address each specific
    factor required by the UCCJEA are untenable and unreasonable to
    the prejudice of the petitioner's case, and, therefore, its
    decision that Indiana is the more convenient forum constitutes an
    unsustainable exercise of its discretion."); Hubert v. Carmony,
    
    494 P.3d 592
    , 595, 596 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2021) (stating that
    Arizona's equivalent of HRS § 583A-207, "should be interpreted to
    require that a court make express findings about all relevant
    factors on the record" and holding that failure to address each
    factor constitutes an abuse of discretion); Goode v. Sandoval, 
    98 N.Y.S.3d 332
    , 334 (N.Y. App. Div. 2019) (stating that "[a]
    court's failure to consider the statutory factors is an
    improvident exercise of discretion" and remanding where the
    "Family Court failed to delineate the factors it considered in
    determining that New York was an inconvenient forum.").
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    Here, as in NB, the Family Court made no findings
    regarding any of the factors listed in HRS § 583A-207(b). At the
    conclusion of the August 28, 2020 joint evidentiary hearing, the
    Family Court simply stated: "[I]n addition to the Court's
    earlier ruling, the Court incorporates [HRS] 583A-207, finding
    that this Hawaii court would not be a convenient forum under the
    circumstances and that another court, specifically Arizona, would
    be a more appropriate forum." The court's subsequent Order
    includes FOFs that may bear on some of the statutory factors, but
    the Order does not address "all relevant factors" and fails to
    identify the factors that the court relied on in declining
    jurisdiction under HRS § 583A-207. On this record, we cannot
    properly determine whether the Family Court abused its discretion
    in declining to exercise jurisdiction over its child custody
    determinations and in relinquishing jurisdiction to the State of
    Arizona. See NB, 133 Hawai#i at 444, 329 P.3d at 349; see also
    In re Elaine Emma Short Revocable Living Tr. Agreement, 147
    Hawai#i 456, 465, 
    465 P.3d 903
    , 912 (2020) ("[W]hen the lower
    court has failed to issue the requisite findings of fact to
    enable meaningful appellate review, it is not the function of the
    appellate court to conduct its own evidentiary analysis." (citing
    Goo v. Arakawa, 132 Hawai#i 304, 317, 
    321 P.3d 655
    , 668 (2014))).
    Morever, it is not clear what the Family Court intended
    in declining to exercise jurisdiction, and in relinquishing
    jurisdiction to Arizona, "over this matter," with the exception
    of "certain issues for final disposition as had been directed by
    the Hawaii Appellate Courts." (Footnote omitted.) The UCCJEA
    governs jurisdictional issues that arise in interstate child-
    custody proceedings, and HRS § 583A-207 authorizes a court with
    jurisdiction to make a "child-custody determination"5/ to decline
    to exercise its jurisdiction if it determines that it is an
    inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a court of
    another state is a more appropriate forum. To the extent that
    5/
    "Child-custody determination" is defined as "a judgment, decree,
    or other order of a court providing for legal custody, physical custody, or
    visitation with respect to a child. The term includes a permanent, temporary,
    initial, and modification order. The term does not include an order relating
    to child support or other monetary obligation of an individual." HRS
    § 583A–102 (2018).
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    the Family Court declined to exercise jurisdiction over issues in
    the underlying divorce proceeding that do not involve the court's
    child-custody determinations, the court did not identify the
    authority supporting its decision. For this additional reason,
    we cannot properly determine whether the Family Court abused its
    discretion in declining to exercise jurisdiction "over this
    matter."
    Accordingly, we vacate the Order in its entirety and
    remand the case for proceedings consistent with this Memorandum
    Opinion.6/ Given our conclusion, we do not reach the remaining
    issues raised by Father in his first and second points of error.
    Father's request that this case be remanded to a different judge
    is denied.
    For the reasons discussed above, we vacate the "Order
    Re: Joint Evidentiary Hearing of August 28, 2020," entered on
    September 3, 2020, in the Family Court of the First Circuit, and
    remand the case to the Family Court for further proceedings
    consistent with this Memorandum Opinion.
    DATED:   Honolulu, Hawai#i, February 28, 2022.
    /s/ Clyde J. Wadsworth
    On the briefs:                            Presiding Judge
    Philip J. Leas
    (Cades Schutte LLP)                       /s/ Karen T. Nakasone
    for Plaintiff-Appellant.                  Associate Judge
    Crystal Waitkus,
    Self-represented Defendant-               /s/ Sonja M.P. McCullen
    Appellee.                                 Associate Judge
    6/
    It is not apparent from the record precisely what matters remain
    to be decided by the Family Court. Father's Motion to Adjust Custody and
    Motion to Terminate Tie-Breaking Authority were denied without prejudice to
    his refiling them in the Arizona court. On appeal, Father does not appear to
    challenge the denial of these motions; indeed, he asserts that the motions are
    "effectively moot." Nevertheless, to the extent matters concerning the Family
    Court's custody determinations are still pending before the Family Court, or
    will arise in the future, our decision to vacate the Order is without
    prejudice to the issue of inconvenient forum being raised upon the motion of a
    party, the court's own motion, or request of another court, as provided in HRS
    § 583A–207.
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Document Info

Docket Number: CAAP-20-0000593

Filed Date: 2/28/2022

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 2/28/2022