STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3430

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: JUD. COM. NO. 24

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred Judiciary Communication No. 24, submitting for study and consideration the appointment of:

District Court of the First Circuit

J.C. No. 24

SIMEONA LYNN LILIUOKALANI AHUNA MARIANO for a term to expire in 6 years;

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Simeona Lynn Liliuokalani Ahuna Mariano for service on the District Court of the First Circuit.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the appointment of Simeona Lynn Liliuokalani Ahuna Mariano from Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers and fifty-four individuals.

Your Committee received comments on the appointment of Simeona Lynn Liliuokalani Ahuna Mariano from the Hawaii State Bar Association.

The Hawaii State Bar Association Board of Directors (HSBA Board) uses a rating system that considers several criteria to assist the HSBA Board in making a recommendation to your Committee on whether the appointee is "qualified" or "not qualified". Specifically, the criteria the HSBA Board employs is the same criteria found in the American Bar Association's Guidelines for Reviewing Qualifications of Candidates for State Judicial Office. Those guidelines include the following criteria, which are not exclusive: integrity, diligence, legal knowledge and ability, professional experience, temperament, financial responsibility, public service, and ability to perform the responsibilities and duties required of the position for which the applicant has been appointed. Upon review of the established criteria, the HSBA Board found the appointee to be qualified for the position of District Court Judge of the First Circuit.

Ms. Mariano earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry from Seattle University. She earned her Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Ms. Mariano has been licensed to practice law in the State of Hawaiʻi since 2004.

Ms. Mariano has dedicated her career to public service. Since 2016, she has worked as a Deputy Attorney General in the Family Law Division of the Department of the Attorney General, where she handles family court matters in all judicial circuits and represents the Departments of Health, Human Services, and Education in child welfare services, juvenile law violations, and truancy cases. Ms. Mariano also has served as lead counsel for child welfare services trials and proceedings, where she has made appeals before the Intermediate Court of Appeals. She also handles minor and adult guardianships and involuntary hospitalization hearings.

Before joining the Family Law Division, Ms. Mariano worked at the Criminal Justice Division of the Department of the Attorney General from 2007 to 2016. At the Criminal Justice Division, Ms. Mariano prosecuted a wide variety of cases including felony cases, welfare fraud cases, and took conflict cases in all judicial circuits. Her responsibilities also included handling grand jury, preliminary hearing, and probation revocation proceedings, in addition to providing legislative research and testimony.

Ms. Mariano's career in public service also includes time at the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney in Lihue. From 2004 to 2007, Ms. Mariano was a Special Prosecuting Attorney, where she prosecuted cases in District, Family, and Circuit Court; screened police reports; reviewed search warrants; conducted legal research; prepared motions, memorandums, and orders; and tried cases before judges and juries.

In addition to her legal career spanning decades of public service, Ms. Mariano is also active in numerous legal organizations. She currently serves as the Oʻahu Director for the Hawaii State Bar Association's Board of Directors and is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association's Judicial Administration Committee and Government Lawyers Section, Hawaiʻi Access to Justice, Hawaiʻi Filipino Lawyers Association, and Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers.

Testimony submitted in support of Ms. Mariano commends her courtesy and civility, even when she is faced with difficult or adversarial situations. Testimony also notes her legal knowledge and experience, commitment to public service, professionalism and work ethic, and respect and compassion for the people and families she serves.

Your Committee finds that, based on the testimony submitted on her behalf, responses to questions asked by the members of your Committee, and your Committee's review of information about her and her qualifications, Simeona Lynn Liliuokalani Ahuna Mariano has the knowledge, dedication, and other competencies to be a District Court Judge of the First Circuit, and possesses the legal expertise and integrity to fully and faithfully discharge the duties associated with that judicial office.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the appointee, has found the appointee to be qualified for the position to which appointed and recommends that the Senate consent to the appointment.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair