HAWAIʻI STATE SENATE CONFIRMS THREE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS TO DISTRICT COURTS ON OʻAHU AND HAWAIʻI ISLAND

HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI - On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the Hawaiʻi State Senate voted to confirm three judicial nominees to serve in the District Courts of the First and Third Circuits, following their appointments by Acting Chief Justice Sabrina S. McKenna. The nominations were reviewed and advanced by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, chaired by Senator Karl Rhoads.

The confirmations include two appointments to the District Court of the First Circuit (Oʻahu) and one appointment to the District Court of the Third Circuit (Hawaiʻi Island). Each appointee will serve a term of six years.

District Court of the First Circuit (Oʻahu)

Kirsha Kaulukane Milianani Durante serves as Litigation Director at the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, where she leads and manages the organization’s litigation work. She previously served as a Deputy Public Defender for more than 15 years, gaining extensive trial and appellate experience, including arguments before the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court and Intermediate Court of Appeals.

Ms. Durante earned her Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University and her Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She has been licensed to practice law in Hawaiʻi since 2004.

She is also deeply engaged in public service and community. Ms. Durante is a founding member of the Kalana Ola Compassionate Release Coalition and currently serves on the State’s Defender Council as a gubernatorial appointee. She is also active with the Native Hawaiian Bar Association, Mālama Honua Public Charter School Foundation, and the Judicial Administration Committee. Testimony submitted to the Committee highlighted her sound judgment, integrity, and deep compassion for the communities she serves.

Simeona Lynn Liliuokalani Ahuna Mariano has built a career in public service focused on the legal needs and well-being of families across Hawaiʻi. She currently serves as a Deputy Attorney General in the Family Law Division, where she handles family court matters statewide, including child welfare, juvenile law, truancy, and guardianship cases, as well as involuntary hospitalization proceedings. She has also served as lead counsel in child welfare proceedings and presented appeals before the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

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

Her career also includes prosecuting felony and fraud cases in the Department of the Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Division and serving as a Special Prosecuting Attorney in Kauaʻi. Ms. Mariano also serves as the Oʻahu Director for the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association’s Board of Directors and is a member of several organizations, including the Judicial Administration Committee, Government Lawyers Section, Hawaiʻi Access to Justice, Hawaiʻi Filipino Lawyers Association, and Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers. Testimony submitted in support of Ms. Mariano highlights her courtesy and civility, even in difficult or adversarial situations, as well as her strong legal knowledge and deep commitment to public service.

District Court of the Third Circuit (Hawaiʻi Island)

Andrew Michael Kennedy is a partner at Schlueter, Kwiat & Kennedy LLLP, where he maintains an active trial practice with experience in both civil and criminal litigation. He has practiced law for over twenty years across multiple jurisdictions and has argued before the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, including in notable appellate cases.

Mr. Kennedy earned his Bachelor of Arts from Villanova University and his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University School of Law. He has been licensed to practice law in Hawaiʻi since 2012 and is also admitted in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Kennedy is active in public service and the legal community, including leadership roles with the West Hawaiʻi Bar Association and service on the State’s Defender Council. Testimony submitted in support of his nomination notes his integrity, professionalism, and calm, fair-minded approach.

“These nominees reflect the depth of legal talent and dedication to public service we have in Hawaiʻi,” said Senate Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads. “Ms. Durante’s extensive trial experience and commitment to justice, Ms. Mariano’s years of service in protecting families and communities, and Mr. Kennedy’s leadership and breadth of legal practice across jurisdictions each bring valuable perspective to the bench. The Committee on Judiciary carefully reviewed their qualifications and is proud to advance these nominations for consideration by the full Senate.”

The nominations were submitted to the Acting Chief Justice by the Judicial Selection Commission on February 11, 2026. With these confirmations, Judges Durante, Mariano, and Kennedy will each serve a six-year term for the State of Hawaiʻi.

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