

HB 1082: Jail Moratorium
This bill, companion bill SB 1245, establishes a moratorium on the construction of any new correctional facilities in the State from 7/1/2021 to 6/30/2022, including the planned construction of a new...
Sign up to host a house party by emailing us at smartjustice@acluhawaii.org. When you sign up to host a house party, we will provide you with the following: ACLU-HI staffer to help with a short presentation and discussion, zoom link, background material on the issue for discussion, (in-person) sign-in sheet and name tags.
What is the goal of your event? Is it to provide information, motivate people for a specific action, increase membership, raise awareness of the ACLU in your community or to celebrate a victory? House parties are for every community - they can be hosted for classes, church congregations, your neighborhood, friends, and family.
Getting people to your event is just as important as planning the program. When hosting a small event for a group of friends and neighbors, send personal e-mails and make phone calls.
The Essentials
Careful preparation on the day of your house party will result in a smooth-running event. Between the time your guests arrive and when the formal proceedings begin, you should set the stage for the remainder of the event.
If your guests won’t know each other, encourage them to wear name tags. Make them beforehand if you know who is attending, or put out blank name badges or stickers along with a few markers and ask guests to create their own. Name tags will make it easier for guests to learn each other’s names and will allow you to call on people during the group discussion. Contact us and we will gladly provide you with name tags.
While not absolutely necessary, guests always appreciate refreshments. You can keep it as simple as coffee and sodas, with store-bought cookies or pastries. If you hold your event at a local coffee shop or restaurant, owners may donate some drinks and snacks.
As your guests get settled, before the presentation begins, take the opportunity to welcome them. Introduce yourself. If the group is small enough, you might go around the room and invite each person to say their name and what brings them to the event.
Have current ACLU materials, including membership brochures and e-mail sign-up cards, available. You might also pass them out after the event ends or place them on a table near the exit. The ACLU-HI has materials available for you.
Have a few pre-planned topics or questions. If everyone in the room seems to have something to contribute, you can scale back their ambitions to focus on a few central points and one or two urgent actions. On the other hand, you can use a question or idea as a way to elicit a response.
Call on people. Give each person a chance to speak and graciously limit the length of their comments.
Stick to a time limit. If you hit your time limit and the group is still talking, ask for one last question. If people wish to continue the discussion, they can do so outside or after other people have the chance to leave.
The ACLU-HI Web site, www.acluhi.org, has detailed information about numerous civil liberties issues that can help prepare you to lead the discussion. You can share key pieces of information and breaking news and be better prepared to answer questions. If someone asks a question and you don’t know the answer, it’s OK to say you don’t know. Simply offer to find out the information and get back to them later.
This bill, companion bill SB 1245, establishes a moratorium on the construction of any new correctional facilities in the State from 7/1/2021 to 6/30/2022, including the planned construction of a new...
This bill, like SB 294 and HB 659, restricts civil asset forfeiture to cases where the property owner has been convicted of the underlying offense, but unlike the bills mentioned, allows forfeiture for...
This bill requires each county police department to collect certain data regarding police stops, uses of force, and arrests, and submit to the legislature annual reports.
This bill, companion bill HB 659, restricts civil asset forfeiture to cases involving a felony offense, and where the property owner has been convicted of the underlying felony offense.
This bill, companion bill SB 294, restricts civil asset forfeiture to cases involving a felony offense, and where the property owner has been convicted of the underlying felony offense.