A.A. v. B.B.

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

POLLACK, J.

Petitioner A.A. and Respondent B.B. decided together to bring a child into their home. Although only B.B. legally adopted the child, A.A. and B.B. co-parented the child and shared physical custody of her, even after their separation as a couple. A.A. brought a petition for joint custody in the Family Court of the Third Circuit (family court) based solely on the de facto custody provision of Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 571-46(a)(2), which was denied. A.A. appealed the family court’s denial of his petition and applied for a transfer to this court, which we…