Events

On February 28, the ACLU of Hawai‘i hosted its third annual community Iftar Dinner — an evening of reflection on how we can cultivate refuge, peace, and solidarity to build a true and lasting foundation of belonging across our communities. At its heart, Iftar is far more than just the meal that breaks the fast during Ramadan. While the food is certainly a highlight, the true essence of the evening lies in its ability to pause and bring a community together for a shared moment of recalibration and reconnection.

The ACLU of Hawai‘i conducted a virtual Habeas 101 Training for legal professionals and advocates interested in learning about habeas petitions in the immigration context. This training covers the basic components of a petition and focus on how immigration law practitioners can identify detained clients who may be eligible for a petition. It was held as a Zoom Webinar by our Immigrants' Rights Attorney Leilani Stacy and ACLU of Massachusetts Managing Attorney Dan McFadden. Link to the recorded training presentation available here. Link to the training slides available here.

Join us for a transformative two-day leadership training designed to strengthen faith-based community organizing in Hawaiʻi. Led by experienced facilitators from Organizing For Mission Network, the event will feature a mix of workshops and hands-on learning. We will equip faith leaders, organizers, and community advocates with essential skills to drive social change. Registration Cost: Lunch & Learn - $20.00 One Day - $30.00 Two Days - $50.00

On January 20, the ACLU of Hawai‘i hosted a conversation about collective resistance in the face of increasing attacks on our democracy and civil rights. This talk featured Emily Hills, our Senior Staff Attorney, as the main speaker. She tackled questions such as: What can we do to resist the rise of a dictatorship? What must be protected to prevent democratic backsliding? How can we stay safe in a system that increasingly punishes dissent? Links to resources: Training slides The Checklist for Ending Tyranny Breaking Down Pillars of Support for Democratic Backsliding Effective Strategies to Resist Democratic Backsliding Watch a full recording of the talk below:

On January 15, 2026, the ACLU of Hawai‘i and the Policing Project at NYU School of Law held a panel discussion on police accountability and building a community-led vision for a safer Hawai‘i. Moderated by Kelly McConney Moore (Policing Project Deputy Director of Legislation), this conversation brought together Wookie Kim (ACLU-HI Legal Director) and Josh Parker (Policing Project Deputy Director of Policy) to share their expertise. Watch a full recording of the panel below:

On January 13, 2026, ACLU National President Deborah Archer gave a talk on racial justice, civil rights, and the inequality of our contemporary justice systems at the William S. Richardson School of Law. The talk was moderated by William S. Richardson School of Law Constitutional Law Professor Nicholas McLean. This event was co-sponsored by Davis Levin First Amendment Conference and WSRSL. Watch a full recording of the panel below:

Together with community partners and allies, the ACLU of Hawai‘i held a community vigil to honor the life of Renée Nicole Good on Friday, January 9 in front of the King Kamehameha Statue at Ali‘iōlani Hale. To read news coverage about the event, see Candlelight vigil honors woman killed by ICE officer in Minnesota.

The O‘ahu Rapid Response Coalition (ORRC) rose from the community to affirm our shared humanity in the face of this oppressive and cruel system that tries to divide us. We are committed to organizing, defending, and caring for one another because no human is illegal on this shared planet.

On December 4, the ACLU of Hawai‘i hosted a Holiday Pau Hana and Policy Team Q&A at the Collection Lofts to commemorate a year of fighting for civil liberties and to share what our affiliate will be fighting for in the upcoming legislative session. The panel and Q&A featured our Policy Team (Mandy Fernandes, Josh Frost, & Kamakani Albano) and was moderated by our Development Director, Jana Light. Special shoutout to our wonderful host Dyms Thomas for booking this space for us!