Mahilani Hiatt at a glance
- Current role
- Per Diem Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Hawaii · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Mahilani Hiatt
Per Diem Judge · Hawaii District and District Family Courts, Third Circuit
Biography
Professional career
- Appointed Per Diem Judge in both the District and District Family Courts of the Third Circuit in 2017, reappointed in 2018, and subsequently became District Family Court Judge in 2018.
- She became a Third Circuit per diem District and Family Court judge in June 2017, was reappointed in June 2018, and became a District Family Court judge in August 2018.
- After a period as a stay-at-home parent from 2001 to 2005, she joined Hiatt & Hiatt, becoming a full partner in 2010.
- Her legal career began as an associate at Bays Deaver Hiatt Lung & Rose in complex civil litigation
Education
- William S. Richardson School of Law in — J.D. (1993)
- Mahilani E.K. Hiatt graduated from Kamehameha Schools Kapalama in 1980, obtained a BA in history from Colorado College in 1984, and graduated from the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law in 1993.
Additional information
- Retired at the end of September 2021.
- She held the role of vice president of the Hawaii State Trial Judges Association in 2020–2021.
- She completed mediation training in 2018 and volunteers with West Hawaii and Kuikahi mediation centers.
- Hawaii Best Lawyers recognition in labor/employment litigation in 2016–2018; community service and co-founding Hiatt scholarships.
- In 2000 she became a human-resources administrator at Hawaii Electric Light Company
- Current per diem judge serving in the District and/or District Family courts in Hawaii's Third Circuit.
- Her biography lists bar admissions in Hawaii state courts, the District of Hawaii and Ninth Circuit
- Mahilani E.K. Hiatt (Ret.) is a retired Hawaii district and family court judge with extensive experience in civil, labor, and family law, as well as mediation and arbitration
- Her practice included employment, labor, medical malpractice, personal injury, construction, real-property and partnership disputes.
- She has also been active in the Hawai‘i State Bar Association and other professional organizations
- She also held the role of Executive Managing Editor of the University of Hawai‘i Law Review and held leadership roles in the Student Bar Association
- She was awarded multiple honors, including the Michael Porter Dean’s Scholarship Award for First Year and the National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Woman Law Graduate award.
- She was executive managing editor of the Hawaii Law Review and held Student Bar Association leadership positions.
- handling grievances and labor arbitrations.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Extended Coverage Notice
Statewide
Hawaii requires news media to notify a court coordinator before electronic or photographic coverage of a judicial proceeding, including audio recording, film, videotape, or still photography.
The news media must notify a court coordinator of their intent to provide any electronic or photographic coverage of a judicial proceeding.Cameras and Audio Equipment ↗
Camera Microphone Placement
Statewide
Hawaii leaves courtroom camera and microphone placement to the judge and cautions that judges may differ on placement rules.
The judge will decide where cameras and microphones can be placed in the courtroom. Judges differ on this - so please ask.Cameras and Audio Equipment ↗
Sources
Identity source checked August 9, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 9, 2026.
Hawaii State Judiciary official judicial roster
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View Remote Court Hearings via Zoom ↗Hawaii State Judiciary judicial profile or roster
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