News & Commentary

ACLU of Hawaiʻi attorney Leilani Stacy has filed several winning habeas petitions. (Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026)

Locked Up Too Long? Legal Tactic Challenges Hawaiʻi ICE Detentions

Joaquin David Rico-Tapia had been held at Honolulu’s Federal Detention Center for six weeks when his attorney filed a special petition last September arguing he had been illegally detained as his deportation case went forward.

Latest Press Release

Aug 6, 2026

ACLU of Hawaiʻi Opposes HPD’s Drone As First Responder Program, Calls for Independent Oversight and Civil Liberties Safeguards

ACLU of Hawaiʻi raises concerns about surveillance, facial recognition, and the lack of legislative safeguards for HPD's new drone policing initiative.

More from the Press

Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.

Jul 19, 2024

HPD Officers Who Handcuffed 10-Year-Old Can Be Sued For Using Excessive Force, Judges Rule

A cafeteria at Honowai Elementary School in Waipahu. (Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021)

Jul 08, 2024

How The Supreme Court's Sit-Lie Ban Could Impact Honolulu's Homeless Enforcement

May 27, 2024

Unsheltered In Hawaii with Mental Health Issues Could Be Assessed Involuntarily

Unsheltered In Hawaii With Mental Health Issues Could Be Assessed Involuntarily

Sharmane Botelho, left, embraced state Health Director Dr. Kenneth Fink on Tuesday at the Iwilei Resource Center.

May 08, 2024

Policy Director For The ACLU Of Hawaii Explains Opposition to Carceral Expansion In Hawai'i

Lawmakers Commit $94M To Update And Build New Jails

Apr 17, 2024

ACLU Supreme Court Houseless Win

Apr 16, 2024

Leeward Coast Closure - City Sweep of Houseless Camps

The ACLU urges Houseless Ordinances to be ruled illegal and unconstitutional in Circuit Court.

Apr 16, 2024

Change23 on Hawai'i News Now

Salmah Y. Rizvi, Executive Director of ACLU-HI Discusses the Change23 Coalition on Hawai'i News Now

Mar 12, 2024

Lawmakers consider changes to state criminal record expungement process

ACLU of Hawai'i is part of the push this legislative session to improve the criminal record expungement process.

Feb 15, 2024

Hawaii’s Still-Struggling Police Standards Board Could Add More Cops To The Oversight Panel

Civil rights advocates say that expanding the board with more police appointments will diminish input from community members.

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