Events

EVENT DETAILS Mālama Mākua Screening Saturday, August 1 12:30–2:30 PM Downtown Hawaiʻi State Library (478 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813) Registration: bit.ly/makua-film Join us for a community screening of Mālama Mākua, a powerful documentary tracing the decades-long movement to protect and restore the sacred lands of Mākua Valley. The evening will begin with brief historical grounding, followed by the film screening Afterward, stay for a facilitated question-and-answer session guided by shared values that connects the film’s themes to ongoing civil liberties issues, including Native Hawaiian rights, climate justice, community safety, living wages, and representatio . Light refreshments will be provided, and attendees will have opportunities to reflect, connect, and engage with local organizations.

EVENT DETAILS Civil Rights in the Next250 Thursday, July 30th 4:30-6:00 pm Downtown Hawaiʻi State Library (478 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813) Registration: bit.ly/next250hi Join us for a community pau hana as we reflect on Hawaii's past, engage with today's civil rights challenges, and imagine the next 250 years together. Enjoy light refreshments while connecting with local organizations working on issues including safety and peace for all, a living wage, climate justice, reproductive rights, and voting rights. The evening will kick off with a brief introduction and lightning talks from local advocates. Exchange literature, zines, and opportunities to get involved, and participate in an interactive Vision Wall where community members of all ages can share their hopes for the future.

Community advocates from the Campaign for Immigrant Justice led by the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaiʻi (“ACLU of HI”), the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights (“HCIR”), and The Legal Clinic will join Governor Josh Green and other community organizations in commemorating the historic signing of major immigrant justice laws while also honoring those who have lost their lives in immigration detention and enforcement actions.   At a time when immigration enforcement actions adversely and dangerously impact communities across the country, Hawaiʻi is setting the standard with the signing of one of the strongest immigrant justice laws in the country. While this moment calls for relief and celebration from the many legislators and community advocates who supported, organized, and lobbied for this critical legislation, it also calls for a moment of reflection and remembrance of the nearly 60 individuals who have lost their lives while in immigration related detention and enforcement.  

Join the ACLU of Hawaiʻi for an evening celebrating our collective wins from the 2026 legislative session at an open mic pau hana! Whether it’s a live performance of poetry, music, or another art form, we also invite you to share your talents with the community. Please register to attend or perform by Friday, May 15. Spots for open-mic performances are limited, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible. Light refreshments will be provided. Drinks from Café VNTG will be available for purchase during the event. Parking: Street parking is recommended.

Reimagining Public Safety in Hawai‘i Coalition Dinner and Film Screening of 13th Time: 6:00 – 9:00 pm Dates and Locations: May 15 - O‘ahu - Central Union Church of Honolulu May 20 - Maui - Teran James Young Center May 21 - Hawai‘i Island - Island Nation May 23 - Kaua‘i - Hale Līhu‘e Join us for a free dinner and screening of the documentary 13th to learn about the history of the American criminal legal system and discuss how it has taken root in Hawai‘i. The free dinners include vegan and GF options.

Once again, communities of faith and our youth are leading the march for civil rights and the rule of law. Join us as we march to the Capitol for the No Dictators 3.0 protest! We will convene at Thomas Square (parking available at the Blaisdell Center) at 9:30am — coffee and pastries available — and begin the march to the Hawai‘i State Capitol at 10:15am. Contact Irwin Jiang ([email protected]) or Dianne Brookins ([email protected]) for details and pre-event activities (poster making, etc.) This is the Moment. This is the Movement. Come be a part of it!

This presentation will provide an overview of the increased immigration enforcement nationwide and in Hawai'i, and cover legal information and basic "Know Your Rights" materials in the context of immigration arrests, protests, and how to interact with ICE agents. This KYR training will be conducted by ACLU of Hawai‘i Immigrants' Rights Attorney Leilani Stacy.

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. Watch a reel from the evening here.

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.