Hawaii families experiencing transition in the form of separation and divorce need alternatives to litigation. Although not all marriages or relationships last forever, we create better outcomes for children and families by facilitating the negotiation of child-centered settlement agreements that support parents to make decisions without having to go to court. I started out as a family law attorney and guardian ad litem to children in the child welfare system in 2005. Over the years I have worked with many families struggling with not only divorce and separation, but also guardianships, adoptions, and involvement in the child welfare system. In 2018, I shifted focus to only provide mediation and collaborative legal services with the goal of settling these matters outside of court. I currently have a contract with the Judiciary to provide mediation services through the O'ahu Child Welfare Mediation Program and have built a robust and growing mediation practice serving families statewide.