Mayor Blangiardi, local leaders issue urgent call for more Guardians Ad Litem

News Release from Office of the Mayor, April 15, 2025

HONOLULU – At an event held in ʻAʻala Park Tuesday, Mayor Rick Blangiardi and other leaders addressing Hawaiʻi’s homeless crisis issued an urgent call to action asking community members to answer the call and serve as advocates for homeless individuals within the state court system as Guardians Ad Litem.

Guardians Ad Litem (GAL) are court-appointed advocates required for nearly all Assisted Community Treatment (ACT) cases. ACT provides a legal pathway for treatment plans for the most at-risk members of our community, specifically individuals with such severe mental illness that they cannot identify that their health is in peril. Many times, these individuals have open and/or untreated wounds and are unable or unwilling to seek medical assistance.

When an ACT petition is approved through the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary, a treatment plan can be applied to an at-risk individual, which could include the use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI). LAI provide dramatically positive results for individuals, including clarity of mind and an increased willingness to engage homeless services and providers. Local experts estimate that 300 – 400 individuals could benefit from ACT on Oʻahu.

“On the City and State levels, we are doing everything we possibly can from a government perspective to address the homelessness crisis with an urgent sense of purpose and compassion,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “This is a moment in time where we are calling on members of our community – especially members of our legal community – to answer the call and take on a noble and selfless role to provide the much-needed help and medical care to the people who could die if they do not get the assistance they need.”

“At the heart of this crisis is a simple truth: people are suffering, and they need compassion,” said Governor Josh Green, M.D., who is in American Samoa and was unable to attend Tuesday’s press conference. “Guardians Ad Litem stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves — people who are alone, in pain and often afraid. By serving in this role, you’re not just helping the court — you’re showing someone they matter. That kind of compassion saves lives. And right now, we need more of it.”

“Homelessness affects every part of our community — from our neighborhoods to our public spaces — and while there’s no single solution to this complex and deeply personal crisis, we can create meaningful change together,” said Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters. “The Guardians Ad Litem for Assisted Community Treatment program provides a vital pathway to help our most vulnerable residents — those living unsheltered and battling severe mental illness — find stability through care, legal support, and compassion, not punishment. I’m honored to work with leaders from various government branches, agencies, and the dedicated attorneys who show us what it means to lead with strength, empathy, and action.”

GAL are a critical part of the ACT process, as they are required for ACT cases in which individuals do not have a representative. GAL act in the best interest of the individual in the courtroom. Currently, there are only two GAL available for the courts to call on for ACT cases filed on Oʻahu. One of them – a dedicated local attorney – has done the vast majority of the cases over the past several years. Attorneys with a license to practice in Hawaiʻi are preferred because of their expertise. However, professionals with licenses in social work, psychology, or other relevant human services fields can do the job as well.

GAL are compensated by the judiciary at a rate of $60 per hour for work conducted outside of the courtroom and $90 in the courtroom. A bill currently in the legislature would increase the rate to $150 an hour for in-court or out-of-court services provided by an attorney licensed to practice law in Hawaiʻi and $122 an hour for services provided by a person who is not an attorney licensed to practice law in the state.

Local lawyers and anyone interested in taking on the crucial task of a GAL are encouraged to contact the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary at: gal@courts.hawaii.gov.

This call for GAL is an unprecedented cross-sector initiative. Participants and attendees at today’s event included:

–           Mayor Blangiardi

–           Jun Yang, Governor’s Homeless Coordinator

–           Ian Tsuda, Deputy Attorney General

–           Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters

–           Honolulu City Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam

–           Connie Mitchell, Executive Director, The Institute for Human Services

–           Christopher Thomas, Attorney

–           Dr. Michael Champion, Office of the Governor, Senior Advisor for Mental Health and the Justice System

–           Dr. Chad Koyanagi, Department of Health, Crisis Continuum and Medicaid Services Medical Director

–           Assistant Chief Calvin Tong, Honolulu Police Department

–           Roy Miyahira, City and County of Honolulu, Director of Homeless Solutions

–           Jim Ireland, Director, Honolulu Emergency Services Department

–           Ian Santee, Deputy Director, Honolulu Emergency Services Department

–           Trevor Abarzua, Waikiki Business Improvement District

–           Cathy Betts, Executive Director, Hawaiʻi State Bar Association

  *   *   *   *   *

CB: Attorney Shortage Undermines Court-Ordered Mental Health Treatment Program - Honolulu Civil Beat -- To address the problem, the Legislature is considering increasing how much those lawyers get paid to $150 an hour.

KITV: An urgent call to action to help Honolulu's chronic homeless | Local | kitv.com