Adrienne continues the fight to save Honolulu Family Court

Adrienne has continued to meet with legislators to continue the fight to Save Honolulu Family Court.  If the special interests who exert so much control in the state of Hawai’i cared about people, instead of lining their own pockets, Kapolei would have its own separate circuit court system. The population on O’ahu has grown large enough to support splitting the island into two judicial circuits.

“It’s an access to justice issue,” said Adrienne when asked about her efforts.  “Access first and foremost means physical access.  Proclaiming people’s right to file a restraining order, custody motion, divorce or paternity and go to court to seek redress is deceptive when roadblocks are purposely put up to make it difficult to file those papers and to appear in court.  Not only will thousands of people be negatively affected by the loss of court access in Honolulu, but looking at the big picture, the gasoline wasted and added traffic on the freeway will do nothing to lessen Hawai’i’s dependence on foreign oil. The situation is ludicrous.  Family Court is the largest volume court in the state. To require some 800 litigants, their families, court investigators, attorneys, translators and court personnel to travel or drive every day from Waimanalo, Waikiki, Kaimuki, Makiki, Hawaii Kai, Moiliili, Ka’kaako, town, Nuuanu, Moanalua up to Pearl City all the way to Kapolei will have a massive negative social impact on this island. Even people on the North Shore prefer court in town, especially for those coming by bus, because coming to town is a straight shot, while going to Kapolei requires more time and at least one bus transfer. Travel by bus to Kapolei from many points on the island requires one, maybe two transfers. The proposed rail stops a mile short!  There is only ONE lane on the H-1 to Kapolei in the morning.  ONE.  The  Judiciary is not going to start court later than 8:30 a.m. to make allowances for all this travel time.  All it would take is one tie up, or accident and  court matters would get backed up.  People’s lives will be sorely affected, especially if there is a restraining order hearing set.  Parking has also been reported to be insufficient, so people will have to walk quite a distance to court if all the spots in the lot are taken. Vague promises to leave something behind in Honolulu are false. There is no intention to have any family court service for people in Honolulu and people from Waianae, Waipio, Kapolei and Makakilo will still have to travel to town for all other court matters.  If they think they are getting their own courthouse, they are not. The whole proposal is a boondoggle.”

It will be interesting to see if the legislature will give the Judiciary money to destroy the perfectly good courtrooms on the 2nd floor of Ka’ahumanu Hale when the money is sorely needed to fix schools and other infrastructure statewide.  The money should not be wasted to demolish these courtrooms because access to justice demands full spectrum court facilities for both those living townside and for those living Leeward side.