Civil Rights Commission

The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission enforces state anti-discrimination laws covering employment, housing, and public accommodations, investigating complaints of discrimination based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, and other protected categories. It conducts investigations, holds hearings on discrimination complaints, and can issue orders requiring remedies including back pay, housing access, and other relief. Hawaii's civil rights laws are broader in some respects than federal law, extending protections to additional categories.

If you believe you have been discriminated against in hiring, housing, or access to a business in Hawaii, the Civil Rights Commission is where you file a formal complaint and can seek legal remedies. The commission's enforcement activity shapes the culture of equal treatment across the state.