FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER

IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS

OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I

---o0o---

IN THE INTEREST OF J.M. and Z.M., Minors

NO. CAAP-20-0000748

APPEAL FROM THE FAMILY COURT OF THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

(FC-S NO. 19-00007)

JULY 27, 2021

GINOZA, CHIEF JUDGE, LEONARD AND HIRAOKA, JJ.

OPINION OF THE COURT BY LEONARD, J.

In many ways, this termination of parental rights case

follows an unfortunate, but familiar, pattern. Parents are both

on drugs and are unable to provide their children with a safe

family home. The State gets involved, but parents do not comply

with mandatory drug testing, continue to test positive for drugs,

otherwise fail to complete or delay getting through a substance

Electronically Filed

Intermediate Court of Appeals

CAAP-20-0000748

27-JUL-2021

08:05 AM

Dkt. 95 OP
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abuse treatment program and other services, and skip court

hearings. The parents' parental rights are then terminated and

permanent custody of their children is awarded to the State.

No matter what circumstances bring parents before a

court, however, indigent parents are guaranteed the right to

court-appointed attorneys in termination proceedings under the

due process clause of the Hawai#i Constitution, as well as the

Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Here, we

hold that such an attorney is essential throughout proceedings

that could result in the termination of parental rights. As the

Hawai#i Supreme Court recently held, representation is so

essential that failure to provide counsel to indigent parents

facing possible termination of their parental rights is

structural error that cannot be deemed harmless error. We

further hold that, in this case, the discharge of the father's

attorney during the pendency of these proceedings, prior to the

family court's decision on a motion to terminate his parental

rights, violated the father's due process rights and was

structural error. Accordingly, the order that terminated his

parental rights must be vacated, without the necessity of proving

harmful error.

Appellant-Mother (Mother) and Cross-Appellant-Father

(Father) appeal from the Decision and Order Terminating the

Parental Rights of [Father] and [Mother] and Awarding Permanent

Custody [HRS 587A] (Order Terminating Parental Rights), filed on

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December 7, 2020, in the Family Court of the Fifth Circuit

(Family Court).1 The Order Terminating Parental Rights

terminated Mother and Father's parental rights to their two

children, JM and ZM (Children). 

I. BACKGROUND

On April 16, 2019, Petitioner-Appellee-Cross-Appellee

The Department of Human Services (DHS) filed a Petition for

Temporary Foster Custody for custody of the Children (Foster

Custody Petition). DHS alleged that the Children were subject to

imminent harm, harm, or threatened harm because their parents'

substance abuse affected their ability to supervise, protect, or

care for the Children. The Foster Custody Petition was supported

by a Safe Family Report and a Family Service Plan, both dated

April 18, 2019, and received into evidence. 

By orders of the Family Court dated April 22, 2019, and

entered on April 24, 2019, separate attorneys were appointed to

represent Mother and Father, effective as of April 18, 2019. 

Appointed counsel for Mother and Father were orally named at an

April 18, 2019 hearing before the Family Court, and Parents

requested a continuance to meet with their respective counsel,

which was granted. The Children had been placed in police

protective custody on April 11, 2019, DHS was temporarily awarded

foster custody, and a May 2, 2019 return date was set.

1/ The Honorable Edmund D. Acoba presided.

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In conjunction with the Foster Custody Petition and

related Safe Family Report, DHS reported that it had received a

report on August 14, 2018, that Mother, Father, and other adults

in the home were using drugs in the presence of the Children and

that one child had stepped on a burning piece of amphetamine in

the home. After a preliminary investigation and interviews, a

DHS social worker requested that Mother and Father complete

urinalyses after the social worker's visit with them. They said

that they could not go that day because they were busy with

errands; they requested to complete drug testing later. Mother

failed to show for drug tests on March 8, 14, and 22, 2019. 

Father failed to show for a drug test on March 8, 2019. Mother

was unable to produce a urine sample on March 13 and 15, 2019. 

Father tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine on

March 13, 2019. On March 29, 2019, both parents failed to meet

with DHS and did not maintain contact with DHS. DHS further

reported that parents had heated verbal altercations and that the

Children hide under the blankets when the arguments occur, that

parents were evasive and refused to allow DHS access to the

family home, and that on April 11, 2019, the police were called

to assist DHS to assess the Children's safety. As noted, the

Children were then placed in police protective custody. 

Subsequent to the filing of the Foster Custody

Petition, Mother and Father were directed in the initial Family

Service Plan to participate in random drug testing. On May 2,

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2019, it was reported that Mother tested positive for

methamphetamine and Father admitted to using methamphetamine and

tested positive for "OXY," which he attributed to prescribed

Percocet. On May 16, 2019, it was reported that Mother tested

positive for methamphetamine. On June 4, 2019, it was reported

that Mother and Father did not show up for drug tests on April

22, May 2, May 6, May 14, May 23, and May 28, 2019. A no show is

considered to be the same as a positive test.

On June 18, 2019, the Family Court entered an Order

Establishing Jurisdiction and Awarding Foster Custody [HRS 587A]

in which the Family Court awarded DHS foster custody of the

Children as of June 13, 2019. 

On July 3, 2019, it was reported Mother and Father did

not show up for drug tests on June 3, 13, 18, and 27, 2019. 

A July 16, 2019 assessment of Father stated he had a

Moderate Methamphetamine Use Disorder and it was recommended he

complete Intensive Outpatient Treatment and Aftercare. 

On July 19, 2019, the Family Court entered an Order

Establishing a Family Service Plan [HRS 587A] which ordered

parents to follow a service plan dated April 18, 2019 (April 2019

Service Plan). The April 2019 Service Plan required Mother and

Father to participate in substance abuse treatment and

management, including random drug tests, a psychological

evaluation and any recommended services, including parenting

education. 

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On August 7, 2019, it was reported that Father did not

show up for drug tests on July 2, 8, 16, 25, and 30, 2019, that

Mother did not show up for drug tests on July 2 and 30, 2019, and

that Mother tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine

on July 11, 2019. 

Father's August 15, 2019 Clinical Psychological

Evaluation stated that Father believed removal of the Children

was unwarranted and parents' drug use away from the Children was

less of a concern than if it was done in the home. The

evaluation stated that Father's "treatment prognosis is guarded

due to his ambivalence toward addressing his drug issue. Until

he can genuinely embrace the need to change and commit to a

different way of living, he will not be in a position to improve

his own functioning as a productive citizen, supportive partner,

or a protective, responsible parent to his [Children]." It was

recommended that Father begin substance abuse treatment, random

drug screens, a support group for substance users, parent

education after achieving sobriety, and couples counseling with

Mother. 

Mother's August 15, 2019 Clinical Psychological

Evaluation stated that Mother believed that the removal of the

Children was unwarranted and parents' drug use away from the

Children was less of a concern than if it was done in the home. 

Mother admitted to cannabis and methamphetamine use and had not

yet taken the first step toward recovery. Mother's "treatment

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prognosis is guarded due to her ambivalence toward addressing her

drug issue. Until she can genuinely embrace the need to change

and commit to a different way of living, she will not be in a

position to improve her functioning as a productive citizen,

supportive partner, or a protective, responsible parent to her

children." It was recommended that Mother engage in substance

abuse assessment and treatment recommendations, random drug

screens, a support group for substance users, parent education

after achieving sobriety, and couples counseling with Father. 

On September 23, 2019, it was reported that Mother and

Father did now show up to drug tests on August 6, 15, 19, and 27,

2019. 

On October 7, 2019, it was reported that Mother and

Father did not show up to drug tests on September 3, 10, and 19,

2019, and that both parents tested positive for methamphetamine

and amphetamine on September 24, 2019. 

On October 8, 2019, the Family Court entered an order

noting that Mother and Father failed to appear for an October 3,

2019 status hearing, although their attorneys were present, and

Mother and Father were defaulted for their non-appearance.

On November 7, 2019, it was reported that Father did

not show up for drug tests on October 1, 10, 15, 21, and 29,

2019. Mother did not show up for drug tests on October 1, 10,

21, and 29, 2019, and tested positive for methamphetamine and

amphetamine on October 15, 2019. 

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On November 27, 2019, at the conclusion of a Periodic

Review Hearing, the Family Court entered an Order Continuing

Foster Custody [HRS 587A], which ordered parents to follow a

service plan, dated November 21, 2019 (November 2019 Service

Plan). The November 2019 Service Plan required parents to

participate in the same services as the April 2019 Service Plan. 

On December 2, 2019, it was reported that Mother and

Father did not show up for drug tests on November 4, 12, and 26,

2019, and on November 21, 2019, both parents admitted to using

meth[amphetamine], instead of taking a drug test. On January 6,

2020, it was reported that Mother and Father did not show up for

drug tests on December 2, 10, and 19, 2019, and both parents

tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine on December

24, 2019. On February 4, 2020, it was reported that Mother and

Father did not show up for drug tests on January 2, 14, 21, and

30, 2020, and both parents tested positive for methamphetamine

and amphetamine on January 6, 2020. 

A Status Hearing was held on February 13, 2020. Mother

and Father failed to appear. On February 19, 2020, the Family

Court entered an order noting the parents' failure to appear at

the February 13, 2020 hearing and were defaulted for their nonappearance. The order stated that neither Mother nor Father had

made progress toward resolving the problems that necessitated

placement. The parties were ordered to appear at an Order to

Show Cause Hearing and Periodic Review Hearing on May 14, 2020.

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On March 16, 2020, it was reported that Mother and

Father did not show up for drug tests on February 6, 13, 18, and

24, 2020. On April 7, 2020, it was reported that Mother and

Father did not show up for drug tests on March 2, 10, 16, and 24,

2020. 

Mother and Father both failed to appear at the May 14,

2020 hearing. On May 26, 2020, the Family Court entered an Order

Continuing Foster Custody and Setting the Matter for a

Termination of Parental Rights Hearing [HRS 587A], which noted

the parents' failure to appear at the May 14, 2020 hearing and

scheduled a Termination of Parental Rights Hearing for July 23,

2020. The Family Court again found that Mother and Father had

made no progress toward resolving the problems that necessitated

placement, and Mother and Father were ordered to follow a service

plan, dated May 14, 2020 (May 2020 Service Plan), which continued

prior services.

On June 24, 2020, DHS filed an Ex Parte [sic] Motion

and Order for a Termination of Parental Rights Hearing (Motion to

Terminate Parental Rights), which was served on counsel for

parents. 

On July 9, 2020, it was reported that Mother and Father

did not show up for drug tests on June 1, 9, 18, and 30, 2020. 

On July 23, 2020, the Family Court held a hearing on

the Motion to Terminate Parental Rights. Mother entered the

courtroom after the hearing began, but was present. Father did

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not appear and the court informed his attorney that Father was

defaulted for that hearing, and that Father's attorney would be

released from the hearing, but the hearing would proceed with

Mother. Father's attorney then requested an opportunity, while

the hearing was recessed for the court to address a different

case, to be able to talk to Mother. The court said that if

Father showed up, he could be a part of the hearing, but that the

court was going to proceed after the recess. 

After the recess, Father still was not present and his

attorney asked for a continuance based on counsel's understanding

that both parents were working with a pastor on Kaua#i and would

be going to a "Teen Challenge" program, but counsel was unable to

reach anyone who could confirm that information to DHS. Father's

counsel asked for a continuance to try to look into matters

before Father's parental rights were terminated forever. The

court noted that the Children had been in foster care for over a

year, that Father had been twice previously defaulted for failure

to appear. The Family Court again stated that Father would be

defaulted and the court then discharged Father's attorney. The

court then indicated that the July 23, 2020 hearing would proceed

as to Mother. 

Brandi Yamamoto (Yamamoto) testified she is a DHS

social worker; she first became involved in the case in March

2019, when there was a report of threat of abuse and neglect by

Mother and Father. When she first went to the family home to

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investigate, she was denied entry to the home. She requested

that Mother and Father take urinalyses, but both parents

repeatedly missed them, even after she explained it might avoid

filing a petition for foster custody if they entered into a

safety plan. It was recommended that Mother and Father address

substance abuse prior to parenting classes, so parenting classes

were put on hold. She referred both parents to Women in Need

(sometimes referred to as WIN), which would do a substance abuse

assessment and random urinalyses every week. A substance abuse

assessment was performed for Father but he did not initiate

treatment. Father did not enter into any of the recommended

treatments stemming from the Women in Need assessments. Mother

was also referred to Women in Need for a substance abuse

assessment and urinalyses. Mother completed a substance abuse

assessment, but did not follow any of the recommendations. 

Yamamoto had a chance encounter with parents in June

2020, and they informed her they would participate in drug

treatment through Teen Challenge on the Big Island (Mother) and

on Maui (Father), but they could not provide her with any

documentation for the services. Yamamoto testified that the

parents were not successful in housing themselves, which is an

issue to consider in the Children's safe placement. Yamamoto

stated that Father participated in #Ohana time (visitation

between parents and children), but he was not always engaged or

consistent in participation. Mother was very engaged in face-to11
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face visits, but there were some challenges in her not attending

visits. Visits were eventually put on hold due to

nonconfirmation. It was reported by the resource caregiver that

during some phone visits, the parents would say that they need to

charge their phone and would call back later, but then did not

call back and left the Children waiting for a phone call. 

Yamamoto stated that it was important to return a call to the

Children, because it shows dedication to the Children and it

creates an emotional issue when the Children are eager to speak

with parents but are disappointed by not receiving a call and may

feel unwanted. 

Yamamoto was concerned about Mother stating that she

intended to enter drug treatment without providing Yamamoto with

documentation because Mother had previously expressed her intent

to enter treatment, but failed to follow through. It was

Yamamoto's opinion that providing parents additional time would

negatively affect the Children because they had been in foster

care for over a year and had stability since entering foster

care. It was also Yamamoto's opinion that it was not reasonable

for the Children to wait for Mother to complete drug treatment

because they had been in foster care for over a year and they

deserve a safe and stable placement. She said that as children

get older, they tend to bond with the people they live with and

breaking that bond would be detrimental to their mental health

and well-being. JM was ten years old, ZM was five years old, and

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it was DHS's position that the court should terminate Mother and

Father's parental rights. 

On cross-examination, DHS objected, based on lack of

relevance, when Yamamoto was asked if she was familiar with other

cases at DHS where parents went into treatment after 13 months of

noncompliance with a treatment recommendation. Mother's counsel

stated:

Yeah, the relevance is that the Department has taken

the position in the past that people who have taken as long

as two years to get into treatment have -- and done fewer

services than my client has done -- have been appropriate

for continued services. That's -- I'm personally familiar

with similar recommendations from DHS in the past, so that's

why I'm asking.

The Family Court sustained the objection. The hearing

was continued before Yamamoto's testimony was complete. The

Termination of Parental Rights hearing was set to continue on

September 11, 2020.

Neither Mother nor Father appeared at the September 11,

2020 continued hearing. In addition, Yamamoto was out on medical

leave. The Family Court further continued the hearing to October

8, 2020.

On October 8, 2020, a continued Termination of Parental

Rights hearing was held. Neither Mother nor Father were present

at the onset of the hearing (1:02 p.m., according to the court's

minutes; three calls were then made outside the courtroom at 1:04

p.m.) and the court defaulted them for their non-appearance and

excused Mother's attorney (1:06 p.m.). The Family Court then

accepted DHS's offer of proof that Yamamoto would testify that

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Mother and Father had not made progress in the reunification

plan, were not presently willing and able to provide a safe

family home for the children and parents would not become able

within a reasonable amount of time, even if given further time to

do services, to become willing and able to provide a safe family

home. The Family Court then found that the State presented clear

and convincing evidence that the parents are not able to provide

a safe family home. Approximately two minutes after Mother and

Father were defaulted (1:08 p.m.), Mother's attorney re-entered

the courtroom with both Mother and Father. 

The Family Court addressed Mother and Father and

explained that they were defaulted for their nonappearance. The

court addressed Father and informed him that, because he was

previously defaulted and his attorney was released, he would have

to file a motion to set aside the default. The court indicated

that it would allow Father to listen to the evidence, but would

not allow him to present evidence or cross-examine. The court

addressed Mother and noted that she had not appeared at the last

hearing, but since the State was not ready to proceed, the matter

was continued. The court set aside the default for Mother's

nonappearance at the onset of the hearing. 

As Father's attorney had been previously discharged by

the court, Father was without counsel. The court informed Father

that due to his absence at several proceedings, his attorney was

released, and he should have contacted his attorney before

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showing up so maybe the attorney could have worked to set aside

the default and Father could participate. The court added that,

"unless you find good cause -- file your motion and the Court

finds good cause, [the] Court will not set aside the default."

Father then left the courtroom.

Mother's attorney was then permitted to cross-examine

Yamamoto. Yamamoto testified she received a Teen Challenge

residential program acceptance letter for Mother, dated August 8,

2020, and received by DHS on September 28, 2020. Yamamoto had

made no effort to contact Teen Challenge about the letter and

conducted no investigation into the program. The Guardian Ad

Litem for the Children asked Yamamoto whether, since the August

letter, Mother had come in to Yamamoto's office or called

Yamamoto or updated Yamamoto concerning going to drug treatment

or the Teen Challenge program. Yamamoto said no, she had not

been provided any information since the case began that Mother

had entered any type of substance abuse treatment. In response

to a further question, Yamamoto stated that the Teen Challenge

letter was unsigned. 

Mother then testified. When asked what steps she had

taken over the past year to secure treatment for drug abuse,

Mother stated that she had been trying to get into Teen

Challenge. She was also now trying to get into the WIN House,

while waiting to get into Teen Challenge which should be

available in a couple of weeks. She first contacted WIN House in

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September 2020. She first contacted Teen Challenge five months

before the October 8, 2020 hearing. She was waiting for her

original birth certificate, so she could get a state ID (hers was

expired), which she needed for the Teen Challenge program. The

Teen Challenge program is a one-year residential program. 

On cross-examination, Mother testified that she had

started parenting classes, but she was not going because "it got

stopped." She had not done couples therapy. Mother acknowledged

that the Children had been in foster care for over a year and

that she did not know if Teen Challenge would allow her children

to live with her. If not, she would try to find a residential

treatment that accepts children. Mother also stated Father would

be going to Teen Challenge the next week. Mother admitted that,

while she was waiting for Teen Challenge, she could have been

attending services through WIN House but did not. She also

admitted to not doing random urinalyses. Mother stated that she

had participated in E Ala Hou three times, but only went three

out of six weeks since she started because of transportation

issues. Mother explained that the E Ala Hou meetings are

Christian-based meetings with people who are in remission or who

are drug addicts and they talk about how Christ can help you get

through your drug problems.

After Mother's testimony, the Family Court set

deadlines for written closing arguments: October 23, 2020, for

DHS; October 28, 2020, for Mother; and November 4, 2020, for a

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DHS rebuttal. A periodic review hearing was set for November 5,

2020.

On October 21, 2020, Mother filed Mother's Motion to

Reopen Trial (Motion to Reopen), pursuant to Rule 10 of the

Hawai#i Family Court Rules (HFCR) and the court's inherent power. 

Mother requested to reopen the hearing to present additional

evidence that Mother recently secured a place to live at WIN

House, was actively engaged in treatment, and was drug free for

10 days as of October 20, 2020. In addition, Father had gone to

a facility on the Big Island for treatment.

According to court minutes, a hearing was held on

November 5, 2020. The minutes reflect an additional exhibit that

would be received concerning Mother's leaving WIN House without a

clinical discharge; Mother's counsel noted that Mother was still

participating in nonresidential services. Prior to the hearing,

on November 5, 2020, shortly after an order was entered

reappointing Father's counsel, Father filed a motion to set aside

his default (Motion to Set Aside). According to the hearing

minutes, DHS noted that it was in agreement to allow Mother to

present further evidence and that DHS would stipulate to set

aside the default against Father. The court noted it had not

seen Father's motion2 and therefore would not entertain a

stipulation at that time. The court denied the Motion to Reopen

2/ Father's Motion to Set Aside was scheduled for hearing on December

10, 2020.

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Trial due to a lack of new evidence or additional evidence to

support re-opening. No transcript of the November 5, 2020

hearing is in the record on appeal.

On November 19, 2020, Mother filed a Motion to

Reconsider Order Denying Motion to Reopen (Mother's Motion for

Reconsideration), pursuant to HFCR Rule 59 and the court's

inherent power. Mother again urged the court to take additional

testimony, noting that there was nearly eight months left, if she

was allotted the "full two years" to provide a safe family home. 

Mother filed a declaration stating that she had been actively

engaged in intensive outpatient treatment through WIN House since

mid-October. She represented that she had not used any drugs

since October 13, 2020, and that she had several drug tests since

then and "none of those tests showed any drugs in my system other

than the leftover amounts from my October 13, 2020 use."3 Mother

also represented that she had taken several steps to secure her

own housing and located at least one place where she believed she

might be able to reside in the near future. On the same day, the

Family Court entered a written order denying the Motion to

Reopen.

On December 3, 2020, Father filed a Motion for

Reconsideration, Amendment and/or Relief from Order Terminating

3/ We note that Mother's November 18, 2020 attestation that she used

drugs on October 13, 2020, appears to be inconsistent with Mother's October

20, 2020 call to her attorney where she told him she had been drug free for

ten days, as reflected in counsel's declaration in conjunction with the Motion

to Reopen.

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Parental Rights (Father's Motion for Reconsideration), pursuant

to HFCR Rules 7, 52, 59, and 60 and moved the Family Court "to

reconsider, amend and/or provide relief from its Order issued

November 5, 2020, terminating Father's parental rights." Father

also filed a memorandum in support of his Motion to Set Aside. 

Father argued that there was good cause to set aside his default

and to reconsider the termination of Father's parental rights by

default in light of the significant interest at stake and no

prejudice to DHS. Father contended that there was excusable

neglect because his substance abuse addiction constituted an

illness that prevented him from being able to effectively and

meaningfully participate in the case. Father also claimed the

default was equivalent to a sanction, the entry of default is

disfavored given the fundamental liberty interest at stake, and

the State would not be prejudiced by reopening the matter. 

Father also stated that he had meritorious defenses that

warranted setting aside the default, specifically, that he was

currently clean and sober and participating in substance abuse

assessments with the McKenna Recovery Center, and that he and

Mother were staying with family, saving money, and preparing to

rent a house appropriate for the Children. Father argued that

the pandemic had made it difficult to find a recovery program

that was accepting applicants and that he enjoyed and would have

continued to engage in parenting classes but for DHS's

cancellation of the classes. 

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On December 7, 2020, the Family Court issued the Order

Terminating Parental Rights. The Family Court found that Mother

and Father were not presently willing and able to provide a safe

family home, even with the assistance of a service plan, it was

not reasonably foreseeable that Mother and Father would become

willing and able to provide a safe family home within a

reasonable period of time, the proposed permanent plan of

adoption was in the best interest of the children, the children

entered foster custody on June 13, 2019, and the parents had

failed to resolve their substance abuse issues. 

On December 8, 2020, Mother filed a Notice of Appeal

from the December 7, 2020 Order Terminating Parental Rights. 

On December 10 and 16, 2020, the Family Court held

hearings on Mother's Motion for Reconsideration, the Motion to

Set Aside, and Father's Motion for Reconsideration. With respect

to the Motion to Set Aside, Father's counsel rested on the

submitted declaration. The Family Court recounted the procedural

history of the case, noting that when trial started on July 23,

2020, Father's counsel stated he was not able to reach Father,

Father did not appear, three calls were made outside the

courtroom, Father was defaulted, and counsel was released. The

court stated that although the State was not ready to proceed on

September 11, 2020, due to the witness's medical leave, neither

parent appeared at the September 11, 2020 hearing for continued

trial. On October 8, 2020, parents failed to appear (on time). 

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Mother eventually appeared with her counsel, so trial was held. 

The Family Court recalled that Father had been defaulted, he did

not have counsel, but requested an attorney to be present, but it

was not in the best interest of the Children to continue trial. 

The court noted that it told Father he could sit in, but not

participate, because he was defaulted. The court stated that

Father never filed a motion to set aside the default.4 The court

pointed out that Father left the hearing after being told he

could not participate. The Family Court found that Father did

not show good cause because there was no explanation for failing

to appear on July 23, 2020, when trial started, and it prejudiced

the State and the Children to continue the matter any further. 

The Family Court reiterated that, at the time of the October 8,

2020 hearing, the Children had been in foster care for almost

sixteen months, and it was not in the best interest of the

Children to continue the matter any further.

Mother's counsel also rested on Mother's Motion for

Reconsideration, except to note that Mother was still doing well

and she was still engaging in services and testing. After DHS

offered to enter Exhibit 85 through 89, Mother's counsel stated,

"So in light of his offer, I wouldn't object to those being

introduced and I don't think that there would be a need to

4/ We note that this is not exactly correct, although Father had not

filed a motion to set aside a default prior to the October 8, 2020 hearing. 

We further note that the court discharged Father's attorney at the July 23,

2020 hearing, and Father was without counsel until his previously-appointed

attorney was reappointed on November 5, 2020. 

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present an evidentiary case in light of that." Exhibits 85

through 89 were admitted into evidence. Mother's offer of proof

as to her testimony was that she was likely to secure stable

housing in Kalâheo by the next week, Mother was attending

substance abuse classes, and she was looking for employment. 

Mother was sworn in and her offer of proof was accepted. Mother

argued, inter alia, that due to the unusual circumstances of the

COVID pandemic, which made getting mandatory documents and

employment difficult, and the fact that two years had not

elapsed, Mother's progress after trial should be considered and

the case should be reopened so she could present additional

testimony. DHS pointed to the complete lack of progress before

trial. The Guardian Ad Litem pointed out that the parents were

not denied any visits they confirmed they would attend, but

failed to show up on time, failed to communicate, and failed to

confirm visits. The Family Court noted in paragraph 4 of

Mother's declaration she stated that several urinalyses did not

show any drug use other than leftover amounts from October 13,

2020, but that trial ended on October 8, 2020; so, Mother was

still using drugs at the time that trial was concluded. Although

Mother entered intensive outpatient treatment through WIN House

in mid-October, it was after trial. The Family Court denied

Mother's Motion for Reconsideration. 

Although the Family Court had denied Father's Motion to

Set Aside, Father was allowed to argue Father's Motion for

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Reconsideration. DHS noted that it understood that the court's

practice was when a default was entered for nonappearance, it was

for a particular day, not "for the life of the case." DHS

posited that the court was making a distinction here because

Father failed to show up for trial days. Father's counsel made

an offer of proof that Father would testify he is clean and

sober, participating with McKenna Recovery Center in classes and

random drug tests, and he and Mother were attending parenting

classes with Child & Family Services. Father admitted he went to

the Big Island for treatment, but left before being clinically

discharged. As further proof, Father would also testify that

parents are waiting to move into a house in Kalâheo, Father

started a full-time job doing roofing work, and Father would be

able to provide a safe family home within two years of July 2019,

when the Children were removed. Father was sworn in and Father's

offer of proof was accepted. Father argued that he should have a

chance to present evidence because it is in the Children's best

interest, that there were mitigating factors due to the pandemic,

and it was not close to two years yet. The Family Court denied

Father's Motion for Reconsideration and noted parents made

progress after its ruling, instead of from the beginning, and

Father was provided due process in that he was given notice, an

attorney, notice was provided to the attorney, and the attorney

lost contact with Father. Father's Motion for Reconsideration

was denied.

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On December 21, 2020, the Family Court entered an Order

Continuing Permanent Custody [HRS 587A] which, inter alia, denied

Mother's Motion for Reconsideration, Father's Motion to Set Aside

Default, and Father's Motion for Reconsideration. On December

23, 2020, the Family Court issued its Findings of Facts Regarding

Trial on Termination of Parental Rights of [Father and Mother]

[HRS 587A]. 

On December 31, 2020, Father filed a Notice of Appeal

from the December 7, 2020 Order Terminating Parental Rights and

the December 21, 2020 Order Continuing Permanent Custody.5

II. POINTS OF ERROR

Mother raises four points of error on appeal,

contending that: (1) the Family Court erred by precluding crossexamination of Yamamoto regarding her recommendations in other

cases; (2) Findings of Fact (FOFs) V and Z are clearly erroneous;

(3) the Family Court clearly erred by finding that there was

clear and convincing evidence that it was not reasonably

foreseeable Mother would become willing and able to provide the

Children with a safe family home within a reasonable period of

time and Mother had not made progress towards resolving the

problems that necessitated placement of the Children; and (4) the

Family Court abused its discretion by refusing to reopen the 

5/ Father's Notice of Appeal was docketed as a cross appeal since it

was filed in CAAP-20-0000748 after Mother filed a Notice of Appeal.

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hearing on the Motion to Terminate Parental Rights to allow

Mother to provide additional evidence of her progress.

Father raises four points of error on appeal,

contending that: (1) the Family Court abused its discretion by

denying Father the right to meaningfully participate with counsel

in the hearing on the Motion to Terminate Parental Rights, and

thereafter terminating his parental rights by default; (2) the

Family Court abused its discretion by refusing to reconsider

termination of Father's parental rights by default; (3) there was

no clear and convincing evidence that Father was not presently

willing and able to provide a safe family home, and it was not

reasonably foreseeable that Father would become willing and able

to provide a safe family home with the assistance of a service

plan within a reasonable period of time; and (4) FOFs V and Z are

clearly erroneous.6

III. APPLICABLE STANDARDS OF REVIEW

Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 587A-33(a) (2018)

governs the termination of parental rights and provides in

relevant part, as follows:

(a) At a termination of parental rights

hearing, the court shall determine whether there

exists clear and convincing evidence that:

(1) A child's parent whose rights are subject

to termination is not presently willing

and able to provide the parent's child

6/ In his Reply Brief, Father more specifically argues that he should

have been appointed counsel at the continued hearing on October 8, 2020, after

his counsel was previously discharged due to his default and non-appearance,

but instead counsel was only reappointed after his parental rights were

terminated.

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with a safe family home, even with the

assistance of a service plan;

(2) It is not reasonably foreseeable that the

child's parent whose rights are subject to

termination will become willing and able

to provide the child with a safe family

home, even with the assistance of a

service plan, within a reasonable period

of time, which shall not exceed two years

from the child's date of entry into foster

care; [and]

(3) The proposed permanent plan is in the best

interests of the child. 

"Generally, the family court possesses wide discretion

in making its decisions and those decisions will not be set aside

unless there is a manifest abuse of discretion." In re Doe, 95

Hawai#i 183, 189, 20 P.3d 616, 622 (2001) (citations and internal

quotation marks omitted). 

[T]he family court's determinations . . . with respect

to (1) whether a child's parent is willing and able to

provide a safe family home for the child and (2)

whether it is reasonably foreseeable that a child's

parent will become willing and able to provide a safe

family home within a reasonable period of time present

mixed questions of law and fact; thus, inasmuch as the

family court's determinations in this regard are

dependant upon the facts and circumstances of each

case, they are reviewed on appeal under the clearly

erroneous standard. Likewise, the family court's

determination of what is or is not in a child's best

interests is reviewed on appeal for clear error.

Moreover, the family court is given much leeway

in its examination of the reports concerning a child's

care, custody, and welfare, and its conclusions in

this regard, if supported by the record and not

clearly erroneous, must stand on appeal.

Id. at 190, 20 P.3d at 623 (citations, quotation marks, and

brackets omitted).

The family court's FOFs are reviewed on appeal

under the clearly erroneous standard. A FOF is

clearly erroneous when (1) the record lacks

substantial evidence to support the finding, or (2)

despite substantial evidence in support of the

finding, the appellate court is nonetheless left with

a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been

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made. Substantial evidence is credible evidence which

is of sufficient quality and probative value to enable

a person of reasonable caution to support a

conclusion.

On the other hand, the family court's COLs are

reviewed on appeal de novo, under the right/wrong

standard. COLs, consequently, are not binding upon an

appellate court and are freely reviewable for their

correctness.

Id. (citations, quotation marks, and ellipsis omitted).

Unchallenged findings of fact are binding on appeal. In re Doe,

99 Hawai#i 522, 538, 57 P.3d 447, 463 (2002).

"We answer questions of constitutional law by

exercising our own independent constitutional judgment based on

the facts of the case. Thus, we review questions of

constitutional law under the right/wrong standard." State v.

Ui, 142 Hawai#i 287, 292, 418 P.3d 628, 633 (2018) (citation

omitted).

IV. DISCUSSION

A. Mother

1. Cross-examination of Yamamoto

On appeal, Mother argues that the Family Court abused

its discretion when it did not permit her to conduct "searching

cross-examination" of an expert witness, Yamamoto, about whether

her recommendations were different in other, similar cases. 

Mother contends that, because she was not allowed such crossexamination, she was improperly prevented from adducing evidence

about the reliability and trustworthiness of the State's expert. 

In addition, Mother submits that she was precluded from

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performing a "broad cross-examination of an expert" as permitted

by Rule 702.1 of the Hawai#i Rules of Evidence (HRE).7

However, at the evidentiary hearing below, Mother's

response to DHS's relevance objection was:

Yeah, the relevance is that the Department has taken

the position in the past that people who have taken as long

as two years to get into treatment have -- and done fewer

services than my client has done -- have been appropriate

for continued services. That's -- I'm personally familiar

with similar recommendations from DHS in the past, so that's

why I'm asking.

Mother did not argue in the Family Court that the

purpose of the questioning was to challenge the reliability and

trustworthiness of Yamamoto's testimony. Therefore, Mother's

claim that HRE Rule 702.1 was violated is waived.8

7/ HRE Rule 702.1 states:

Rule 702.1 Cross-examination of experts. 

(a) General. A witness testifying as an expert may be

cross-examined to the same extent as any other witness and,

in addition, may be cross-examined as to (1) the witness'

qualifications, (2) the subject to which the witness' expert

testimony relates, and (3) the matter upon which the

witness' opinion is based and the reasons for the witness'

opinion.

(b) Texts and treatises. If a witness testifying as an

expert testifies in the form of an opinion, the witness may

be cross-examined in regard to the content or tenor of any

scientific, technical, or professional text, treatise,

journal, or similar publication only if:

(1) The witness referred to, considered, or relied

upon such publication in arriving at or forming the

witness' opinion, or

(2) Such publication qualifies for admission into

evidence under rule 803(b)(18).

8/ We note that Mother sought to introduce evidence that parents in

other termination of parental rights cases were given at least two years to

participate in services before DHS moved to terminate their parental rights

because HRS § 587A-33 requires, inter alia, clear and convincing evidence that

it is not reasonably foreseeable a parent "will become willing and able to

provide the child with a safe family home, even with the assistance of a

service plan, within a reasonable period of time, which shall not exceed two

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2. FOFs V and Z

Mother challenges FOFs V and Z, which state:

V Mother and Father continue to be inconsistent

with participating in drug testing and failed to

appear for drug testing on November 23, 2020, a

failure to appear is considered a positive test

by the Court;

. . . .

Z Mother and Father have failed to engage in

couples counseling, therapy or participate in a

sober support group[.]

Mother argues that FOF V is clearly erroneous because

Mother "missed a drug test on November 23, 2020 because the DHS

stopped affording Mother drug testing due to termination of her

parental rights." However, DHS submitted to the Family Court the

WIN-certified reports that Mother tested negative on November 2,

12, and 30, 2020, but did not show up for testing on November 23,

2020. The reports indicate Mother's tests on November 23 and 30,

2020, as well as the tests earlier in November, were court

ordered. Thus, substance abuse testing was not terminated in

November 2020. Mother's counsel was mistaken, to the extent he

claimed that, when the order terminating Mother's parental rights

was orally announced, parents "were cut off from substance abuse

testing." The Order Terminating Parental Rights was not issued

years from the child's date of entry into foster care[.]" However, as Mother

recognizes, "the two-year time limit imposed by Chapter 587A does not require

that the full two years be allowed in every case[.]" HRS § 587A-7 (2018)

specifies the safe family home factors to consider "when determining whether a

child's family is willing and able to provide the child with a safe family

home," none of which involve comparing other parents or cases. These factors

are specific to the particular child, family, and other circumstances at issue

in the particular case before the court. Thus, Mother's inquiry into other

cases was not relevant and the objection to relevance was properly sustained.

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until December 7, 2020. Therefore, FOF V is not clearly

erroneous as to Mother.

Mother argues that FOF Z is clearly erroneous because

Mother testified she engaged in a sober support group, E Ala Hou. 

Mother testified:

Q. Okay. So now, [Mother] while you've

been waiting to get into -- to fly over to treatment

on the Big Island at Teen Challenge, you could have

been attending services through the WIN House?

A. Uh-huh.

Q. But you're not?

A. No.

Q. You're not doing the random urinalysis? You're

not --

A. I haven't.

Q. -- doing groups?

A. I've been doing the, yeah, the whole one, but

that's only on Mondays.

Q. Okay. But you haven't participated in anything --

A. No.

Q. -- else?

A. No. But the -- the ladies at WIN House said that

when I get in there, they can help me get into the

intensive care groups or meetings they have three

times a week.

Q. But you haven't entered into any of the other

programs at WIN?

A. No.

Q. Okay. And the E Ala Hou program, that's through

Child & Family Services?

A. No.

Q. No. E Ala Hou is --

A. I got in that through the church that we were

going for Teen Challenge to.

Q. Through Pastor Kua?

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A. Yes.

Q. And how long have you been attending those

services?

A. I went three times so far.

Q. Three times. And it's once a week?

A. Yeah.

Q. So you've gone for the last three weeks?

A. I didn't go the -- the week before this one or

this one. I'm going to go this week, this next coming

week.

Q. So you haven't been going every week, but you went

--

A. Yeah.

Q. -- three times? Is that right?

A. Yeah.

Q. Okay. So you --

A. Because it's all the way in Kekaha, so if I get --

have a ride or the church -- if I call the church and

ask them for a ride, they'll give me a ride from --

Q. So when did you start going? When was the first E

Ala Hou session you went to?

A. I went -- like the first time was like four --

five or six weeks ago I started.

Q. Okay. So in August?

A. Yeah. At the end of August.

Q. Okay. So between the end of August and today,

you've gone three times?

A. Yeah.

Q. But it meets weekly?

A. Yeah.

Q. Is that right?

A. Yeah.

Q. Okay. So you've gone to less than half of the

times that you're supposed to have gone, right?

A. I went -- like three out of six weeks I went since

I started.

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Q. Okay. But the end of August. There's all of

September, right? And then this is the first week of

October. Okay. So six weeks.

A. Uh-huh.

Q. You're saying three out of six?

A. Uh-huh.

Mother further testified "they're meetings with people

who are in remission or who are drug addicts, and they talk about

Christ and drug problems and how Christ can help you get through

it." 

While it appears that the Family Court could have been

more precise by acknowledging Mother's limited and inconsistent

participation in the E Ala Hou program, viewing the entirety of

the record of Mother's lack of actual engagement, we cannot

conclude that the Family Court clearly erred in its findings as

to Mother in FOF Z.

3. The termination of Mother's parental rights

Mother argues that the Family Court clearly erred by

finding that there was clear and convincing evidence that it was

not reasonably foreseeable that Mother would become willing and

able to provide the Children with a safe family home within a

reasonable period of time, and Mother had not made progress

towards resolving the problems that necessitated placement of the

Children. Mother submits that it was premature to determine she

had not made progress because, when the Family Court announced

its ruling, she still had nine months until the two-year period

ended at the time her parental rights were terminated.

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As the Background of this case recounts, Mother's

substance abuse, and the resulting harm, imminent harm, or

threatened harm to the Children was first reported to DHS in

August of 2018. The Children entered foster care on June 13,

2019, after numerous failed and missed drug tests and parents'

failure to meaningfully engage with DHS. 

Unchallenged findings include that "Mother and Father

consistently failed to appear for testing, tested positive for

amphetamines/methamphetamines or admitted to using

amphetamines/methamphetamines, in the 18 months since the

petition was filed on April 16, 2019," (FOF S) and "Mother and

Father despite, multiple substance abuse evaluations and

opportunities to participate in substance abuse treatment, have

failed to complete treatment, and have never consistently

maintained sobriety," (FOF X). It was not until October 8, 2020,

that Mother testified that she decided to participate in Teen

Challenge on the Big Island for drug treatment. There had been

certain hurdles for Mother's entry into that particular program,

but Mother provided no good reason for not having engaged in

other available substance abuse services prior to that time. 

Notably, at the time of Mother's October 8, 2020 testimony, she

reported that the Teen Challenge was a year-long program, and she

had not yet started it. Thus, even if Mother had entered and

successfully completed that program, she would not have addressed 

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her substance abuse issues until at least October 2021, well

beyond two years after the Children entered foster care. 

On the record in this case, we cannot conclude that the

Family Court clearly erred in determining that it was not

reasonably foreseeable that Mother would become willing and able

to provide a safe family home, even with the assistance of a

service plan, within a reasonable period of time not to exceed

two years from when the Children entered foster care on June 13,

2019. It was not reasonably foreseeable that providing Mother

until June 2021 to address her safety issues would have resulted

in Mother demonstrating that she would become willing and able to

provide a safe family home. Therefore, we reject Mother's

argument that she was not provided with a reasonable period of

time; it was not premature for the Family Court to determine that

Mother had not made progress in addressing her safety concerns,

even though it was nine months prior to the expiration of the

maximum two-year period which could be considered reasonable. 

4. Motion to Reopen

On October 21, 2020, less than two weeks after the

completion of the evidentiary hearing, Mother requested that the

Family Court reopen trial to allow additional testimony

concerning her entry into residential treatment at WIN House and

Mother's representation to her attorney that she had been drug

free for ten days. It appears that, even prior to the November

5, 2020 hearing on Mother's Motion to Reopen, she had left WIN

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House without a clinical discharge. We cannot conclude that the

Family Court abused its discretion in denying this motion. See

State v. Christian, 88 Hawai#i 407, 417, 967 P.2d 239, 249 (1998)

(permitting or disallowing the reopening of a case is

discretionary). 

On November 19, 2020, Mother's Motion for Reconsideration was filed, again requesting that the Family Court reopen

trial and take additional testimony. Mother cited Doe v. Doe, 98

Hawai#i 144, 156, 44 P.3d 1085, 1097 (2002), which held that a

family court erred by denying a motion for new trial, as well as

In re TW, 124 Hawai#i 468, 474, 248 P.3d 234, 240 (App. 2011),

where this court noted that a short continuance would not have

resulted in any substantial prejudice or unduly infringed upon

the court's need to manage its docket. Essentially, Mother

argued that the Family Court abused its discretion in denying the

October 21, 2020 Motion to Reopen.

In Doe, the supreme court held that the family court

abused its discretion by denying a HFCR Rule 59(a) motion for new

trial by misapplying the good cause standard applicable to HFCR

Rule 59(a) motions and refusing to extend testimony beyond a

three-hour time limit to allow other witnesses to testify. Doe,

98 Hawai#i at 155-56, 44 P.3d at 1096-97. Doe is distinguishable

from this case because the Motion to Reopen was not an HFCR Rule

59(a) motion for new trial, Mother was not limited by the Family

Court in presenting pertinent evidence, Mother sought to present

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her own additional testimony instead of testimony by other

witnesses who were prevented from previously testifying, and the

testimony she requested to present regarded events subsequent to

the closing of the hearing instead of evidence that existed at

the time of the hearing. Indeed, the testimony Mother sought to

present was that she had begun a different treatment program than

the one she had told the court she was going to start, only 13

days earlier, and Mother had again changed programs prior to the

hearing on the Motion to Reopen.

In In re TW, a family court defaulted a parent for

failure to appear at one hearing, granted a motion for permanent

custody based on the default, and denied the parent's motion to

set aside the default. 124 Hawai#i at 469, 248 P.2d at 235. 

This court held that the Family Court abused its discretion by

imposing a default sanction for a single non-appearance and there

was nothing in the record to suggest a short continuance to

permit counsel to determine the parent's whereabouts and secure

her attendance would have resulted in any substantial prejudice

to DHS or the children. Id. at 474, 248 P.2d at 240. In this

case, Mother was not sanctioned for failure to appear. Although

Mother was initially defaulted on October 8, 2020, for failing to

appear for further hearing on the Motion to Terminate Parental

Rights, her default was set aside when she appeared a few minutes

later. Therefore, In re TW is inapplicable.

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Here, Mother requested that the Family Court reconsider

its rejection of her October 21, 2020 request to reopen the case

to present Mother's further testimony about her post-trial,

initial steps, into substance abuse treatment and (short-term)

sobriety. While DHS and the Family Court encouraged Mother to

continue to address her substance abuse problems at the hearing

on Mother's Motion for Reconsideration, Mother's offer of proof

was that she was likely to secure stable housing (not that she

had secured housing), she was attending substance abuse classes

(not that she had been successfully discharged from a substance

abuse program), and that she was looking for employment (not that

she was employed). Mother admitted having done drugs post-trial,

on October 13, 2020 (after previously reporting to her lawyer on

October 20, 2020, that she had not done drugs for ten days), and

as the Family Court noted, she failed to show up for drug testing

on November 23, 2020. Based on the record in this case, we

cannot conclude that the Family Court abused its discretion by

failing to reconsider the denial of the Motion to Reopen.

B. Father

1. The termination of Father's rights by default

Father argues, inter alia, that the Family Court abused

its discretion by denying Father the right to meaningfully

participate, with counsel, in the October 8, 2020 evidentiary

hearing and terminating his parental rights by default. Father's

further argument on appeal – that had he been permitted to

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participate at the October 8, 2020 hearing he would have shown

that it was his substance abuse that prevented him from showing

up and participating in the case earlier – is not compelling,

especially in light of the fact that the substance abuse was the

main reason that these parents were unable to provide the

Children with a safe family home. However, as argued more

thoroughly in his Reply Brief, Father's ability to even make that

argument, or any argument, was severely impacted by his lack of

legal representation.

Hawai#i appellate courts have repeatedly recognized

that parents have a substantive liberty interest in the care,

custody, and control of their children that is protected by the

due process clause of article I, section 5 of the Hawai#i

Constitution. See, e.g., In re Doe, 99 Hawai#i at 533, 57 P.3d

at 458; In re T.M., 131 Hawai#i 419, 421, 319 P.3d 338, 340

(2014); In re L.I., 149 Hawai#i 118, 482 P.3d 1079 (2021); In re

TW, 124 Hawai#i 468, 248 P.3d 234 (App. 2011). The United States

Supreme Court has similarly recognized these rights as being

protected by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States

Constitution. Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 65 (2000)

("[T]he interest of parents in the care, custody, and control of

their children—is perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty

interests recognized by this Court."). 

In In re T.M., the Hawai#i Supreme Court held that

"parents have a constitutional right to counsel under article I,

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section 5 in parental termination proceedings and that from and

after the filing date of this opinion, courts must appoint

counsel for indigent parents once DHS files a petition to assert

foster custody over a child." 131 Hawai#i at 421, 319 P.3d at

340. The court explained that if the mother in that case had

been appointed an attorney sooner, she might have been able to

comply with the terms of the family plan and provide her family

with a safe home, possibly avoiding the termination of her

parental rights. Id. at 432-33, 319 P.3d at 351-52. 

 In In re L.I., the Hawai#i Supreme Court held that

family courts must appoint counsel for indigent parents even

earlier (where applicable), when DHS files a petition for family

supervision, because their parental rights are already

substantially affected at that point. 149 Hawai#i at 122, 482

P.3d at 1083 (citation omitted). The court further held that the

failure to do so was structural error, requiring vacatur without

the necessity of proving harmful error. Id. at 122-23, 484 P.3d

at 1083-84. Citing In re T.M., the court noted that "an attorney

is essential to protect an indigent parent's liberty interest in

the care, custody and control of his or her children." Id. at

122, 484 P.3d at 1083 (citation and internal quotation marks

omitted). The gravamen of this decision, as well as its

predecessors, is that such an attorney is essential throughout

proceedings that could result in the termination of parental

rights, and we so hold. Representation is so essential that

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failure to provide counsel to indigent parents facing possible

termination of their parental rights is structural error that

cannot be deemed harmless error. See id. at 122-23, 482 P.3d at

1083-84 (citation omitted).

In this case, there is no mystery in the Family Court's

dim view of Father's lack of progress in addressing his substance

abuse issues, lack of comprehension of the resulting harm to the

Children, which was exacerbated by inconsistent visitation and

communication with the Children, lack of participation at

multiple hearings, and failure to show up on time to the second

day of the evidentiary hearing to terminate his parental rights.

That said, it is not clear why at the July 23, 2020

hearing, when Father did not appear in the first instance, Father

was defaulted and Father's counsel was "released" for the

hearing, but after counsel asked for a continuance to confirm the

details of Father's treatment plan, the Family Court not only

reiterated that Father was defaulted, but also discharged

Father's attorney from the case, leaving Father unrepresented,

although the issue of the termination of his parental rights was

not yet decided. We note that Father had previously failed to

appear and Father was "defaulted," but apparently only for

proceedings before the court on that day. Nothing in the record

of the July 23, 2020 hearing indicated that the default against

Father was for the duration of the termination proceedings. That

only became clear on October 8, 2020, when the Family Court

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informed Father, who was unrepresented at that point, that he

could not participate further in the termination proceedings

unless he filed a motion to set aside his default and the court

found good cause.

We decline to speculate as to the various ways having

continuous representation might have benefitted Father, in and

outside the courtroom. We observe, however, when the Family

Court defaulted Father for nonappearance (being late) to the

October 8, 2020 hearing, Father did not have an attorney present

to possibly explain why he (and Mother) arrived six minutes after

the hearing started. Nor did Father have counsel present to

address the court when it announced that Father now would have to

file a motion to set aside the default, and the court would have

to find good cause, before Father could participate any further

in the proceedings to terminate his parental rights. If an

attorney had been present, he or she might have advised Father to

stay for the rest of the proceedings.9 It also appears that the

discharge of Father's attorney led or at least contributed to the

delay in Father's ability to file a motion to set aside default. 

As noted above, Father's November 5, 2020 Motion to Set Aside was

filed less than two hours after the order reappointing his

attorney was entered, presumably because counsel was not

9/ When the Family Court heard Father's Motion to Set Aside and

Father's Motion for Reconsideration on December 16, 2020, the court pointed

to, inter alia, Father's departure from the October 8, 2020 hearing in its

explanation for the denial of Father's requests for relief.

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authorized to proceed on Father's behalf prior to the entry of

the new order of appointment. This led to entry of the December

7, 2020 Order Terminating Parental Rights before the hearing on

Father's Motion to Set Aside was heard on December 10 and 16,

2020.

We recognize, however, that these potential benefits

and consequences relate only to the issue of whether or not any

error in conducting termination proceedings against Father after

discharging his attorney substantially affected Father's rights,

i.e., were harmful. 

However, based on the Hawai#i Supreme Court's decisions

concerning the due process afforded to parents facing possible

termination of their parental rights, particularly In re L.I., we

hold that the Family Court's discharge of Father's attorney

during the pendency of these proceedings, prior to the Family

Court's decision on DHS's Motion to Terminate Parental Rights,

violated Father's due process rights and was structural error. 

Accordingly, with respect to Father, the Order Terminating

Parental Rights must be vacated without the necessity of proving

harmful error. See In re L.I., 149 Hawai#i at 122-23, 482 P.3d

at 1078-79. In addition, although we have rejected Mother's

contentions that the Family Court erred with respect to the

termination of her parental rights, we conclude that the Order

Terminating Parental Rights should be vacated in its entirety to

ensure that the Family Court can consider all factors that might

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FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER

aid in determinating whether a particular permanent plan is in

the best interest of the Children.10

2. Father's Other Arguments

In light of our decision to vacate the Order

Terminating Parental Rights, we need not address Father's other

arguments on appeal.

V. CONCLUSION

For these reasons, the Family Court's December 7, 2020

Order Terminating Parental Rights is vacated, and this case is

remanded to the Family Court for further proceedings.

On the briefs:

/s/ Lisa M. Ginoza

Matthew Mannisto, Chief Judge

for Mother-Appellant.

/s/ Katherine G. Leonard

Gregory H. Meyers, Associate Judge

(Meyers & Meyers LLC),

for Father-Appellant. /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka

Associate Judge

Russell K. Goo,

Julio C. Herrera,

Ian T. Tsuda,

Patrick A. Pascual,

Deputy Attorneys General,

Family Law Division, State of Hawai#i,

for Petitioner-Appellee-

 Cross-Appellee THE DEPARTMENT OF

 HUMAN SERVICES.

10/ In light of Mother and Father's prior arguments, we note that this

ruling does not constitute the beginning of a new "two-year period" to address

the issues that led to the removal of Children from the family home.

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