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.

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PRESS RELEASE - Hawaiʻi Legislators and Community Advocates Celebrate Landmark Immigrant Justice Laws and Honor Lives Lost to Immigration Enforcement

Hawaiʻi celebrates six landmark immigrant justice laws while honoring 64 lives lost to immigration enforcement.
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Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.



Maui Prep Policies For Transgender Students Face Legal Scrutiny

The ACLU of Hawaiʻi says Maui Prep’s proposed policies for transgender students violate state anti-discrimination laws.

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Midwife Bill Advances In Hawai‘i Senate But Causes Confusion

Carrie Ann Shirota, policy director of the ACLU of Hawai‘i weighs in.

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Law Enforcement Officers Should Explain Why Arrests Are Necessary

A state Senate committee killed a bill to have cops explain why they make warrantless arrests for petty misdemeanors and violations.

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New City And State Homeless Directors Face Monumental Task

At last count, homelessness rose in Hawaiʻi after falling for several years. But many in the service community say strong vision and a comprehensive plan can counterbalance high turnover in top positions.

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Transgender Students Have Strong Protections In Hawaiʻi. That May Not Last

A private school on Maui is restricting transgender students’ access to bathrooms and sports teams. Some advocates are worried that more schools might follow.

Maui Preparatory Academy

Student Resource Officers (aka Cops) Will be Placed in DOE Schools

Students were more likely to be arrested on a campus with a school resource officer, according to Department of Education data.

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$1 Billion Superjail Is No Solution For Reform, Housing, Public Health

Our criminal justice issues are primarily driven by an affordable housing and public health crisis.

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Hawaii Senate Rejects Expansion Of Marijuana Decriminalization Law, While Broader Legalization Effort Appears Dead For The Year

Senators voted 12–11 against the decriminalization measure, SB 319, from Sen. Joy San Buenaventura (D) on Friday. There was no discussion or debate prior to the floor vote.

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Legal Director, Wookie Kim, Weighs In On How Racism Is Common In Hawaiʻi Schools — And Often Goes Unaddressed

Nearly half of white high school students and more than half of Black students in the state said they’d experienced racism in schools, according to a federal survey recently pulled from the internet by Trump administration orders.

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