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ACLU Clients File Marital Status Discrimination Complaint with Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (02/11/2010)
HONOLULU – The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii Foundation (“ACLU”) announced today that its clients, Susan Carstenn and Bruce Lenkeit, have filed a complaint with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (“HCRC”) against the Department of Land and Natural Resources (“DLNR”) for discriminating against them on the basis of their marital status.
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Medical Cannabis Working Group Report Slams State for Failing to Provide for Hawaii's Sick and Dying (02/04/2010)
UPDATE (2/12/2010): The full report (3 MB) is available at http://www.acluhawaii.org/downloads/1002MCWG.pdf.

HONOLULU – The Medical Cannabis Working Group (“MCWG”) submitted its executive summary on Hawaii’s medical cannabis program to the Legislature today.  MCWG members also presented their recommendations for legislative action to help sick and dying patients in Hawaii obtain safe and legal access to their medicine. 

MCWG is comprised of patients, caregivers, physicians and advocacy organizations who organized to conduct a study and make recommendations to the Legislature to improve Hawaii’s medical cannabis program.  The study and report were originally assigned to the Medical Marijuana Task Force pursuant to 2009’s Act 29; Governor Lingle ignored the Legislature’s directive and refused to convene the Task Force, but MCWG members believed that immediate action was necessary to ensure patients’ health and safety.

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Hawai`i Legislators Kill Civil Unions Bill Yet Again, Lambda Legal and ACLU Readying Lawsuit (02/01/2010)
(Honolulu, February 1, 2010) — Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai`i Foundation (ACLU) today announced they are planning legal action against the state of Hawai'i following last Friday’s failure by the Hawai`i Legislature to enact a law providing broad legal rights and duties to the state’s lesbian and gay couples.   

The Hawai`i Senate had approved H.B. 444 — a bill to create “civil unions” — by a veto-proof 18 to 7 majority the week before, sending the bill back to the House for a conforming vote.  Although the House had passed H.B. 444 by an emphatic 33 to 17 margin last year, House members used an anonymous voice vote to kill the bill last Friday.

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Big Island's Micah Inoue Wins Youth Award! (01/26/2010)
HONOLULU – The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii’s (“ACLU”) Guardians of Liberty and Justice Youth Award will be presented to Micah Inoue, a Hilo-based student activist working for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT”) persons.

ACLU Youth Affairs Committee Chair Esther Solomon said: “Micah has made a tremendous impact on his community through his work with the University of Hawaii at Hilo student group Pride Hilo, as a student voice in University of Hawaii system-wide governance discussions on diversity, and as an individual who sees opposition and ignorance as opportunities to educate while encouraging others. We are honored to present him with this award meant to recognize and celebrate the upcoming generation of civil libertarians, and we are especially happy to have keynote speaker Anthony Romero on hand to present the award.”
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Contact Hawai‘i Representatives Today - Urge Them to Support H.B. 444! (01/26/2010)
1)  Contact your Representative today and ask him/her to support H.B. 444. 
Contact information is located here: http://capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/direct/repdir.asp.

2)  Contact Speaker Say at (808) 586-6100 and ask him to support H.B. 444.

Thank you for supporting equality in Hawaii!

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Community Gathers to Celebrate the Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
and 40 Years of Choice in Hawaii (01/21/2010)
Honolulu, Hawaii—On January 22, 2010 from 9:00-10:00 AM, supporters and advocates will gather at the State Capitol Rotunda to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade and to celebrate 40 years of freedom of choice in the state of Hawaii. The formal observance will feature a number of prominent Hawaii advocates who will address the efforts of our U.S. and Hawaii lawmakers to ensure reproductive rights for women. Members of the community are invited and encouraged to attend to show their support.
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Prison Overdetention Case Will Go to Trial
(01/15/2010)
HONOLULU – The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii (“ACLU”) and Honolulu attorney Colin Yost (of Cruise & Yost) announced a victory today in a lawsuit challenging the Department of Public’s Safety’s unconstitutional practice of keeping inmates in prison after the inmates have served their sentences.  United States District Court Senior Judge Samuel P. King rejected the State’s arguments that the case should be dismissed and is allowing the case to proceed to trial.
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Grassroots Celebration Showcases ACLU of Hawaii's 45th Anniversary  (12/18/2009)
Honolulu, Hawaii: The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii (ACLU) presents a grassroots celebration in honor of its 45th anniversary in Hawaii protecting the civil liberties guaranteed in the Hawaii and United States Constitutions.    

The Grassroots Celebration is set for Saturday, February 20, 2010 at the Blaisdell Center Hawaii Suites. The celebration consists of a free, public  "Freedom Fair" from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, followed by an awards luncheon ($45 per person) from noon to 2 p.m.    

ACLU of Hawaii 45th Anniversary Committee Chair Paula Myers said: "The ACLU celebrates our 45th with gratitude to our amazing 'ohana, and a focus on ever-increasing our local advocacy going forward. We are thrilled to welcome Anthony Romero and excited about the Freedom Fair - new this year - which will mix  performers, banned books readings, music and art alongside diverse community groups who support the Bill of Rights in a free, public showcase of the First Amendment in action!"    


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ACLU of Hawaii Celebrates national Bill of Rights Day  on Tuesday, 12/15/09 (12/11/2009)
Tuesday, December 15th marks the 218th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights. The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii ("ACLU") continues its tradition of offering free copies of the Bill of Rights to the public.

ACLU volunteers will distribute free copies at the following locations:

Oahu (Honolulu): Corner of Bishop St. and King St. from 11:30 a.m.  to 1:00 p.m.

Maui (Wailuku): Fronting Maui County Building, 200 So. High St. from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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ACLU of Hawaii Joins National Resolution for Ending School Pushout (12/08/2009)
Learn more at the Dignity in Schools Campaign website - http://www.dignityinschools.org
Read the Resolution (including list of signatories) - http://www.dignityinschools.org/files/DSC_National_Resolution.pdf

The ACLU of Hawaii has joined over 180 organizations and individuals from across the country to support the Dignity in Schools Campaign National Resolution for Ending School Pushout, a call to action for our school systems to end harsh discipline policies and law enforcement tactics that push too many young people out of school each year. The National Resolution calls for schools to implement positive alternatives that protect the human rights of young people and keep students in school.

The National Resolution is being released as states submit applications for Race to the Top Funds made available under the federal stimulus package.  Federal Department of Education guidelines recommend that states and districts use these funds to promote positive school climates and discipline.
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Legislative Action Alert:
Protect Women's Access to Abortion Care in Health Care Reform
(12/02/2009)
You have a critical role to play in the fight for women’s reproductive freedom in this country.  We need everyone to let their senators know that we want health reforms that will protect reproductive freedom not put it in peril as the House did with its Stupak-Pitts amendment.
 
The current Senate bill does not include the Stupak-Pitts language, but we are still a long way from victory.  If we want to make sure the Senate stands up for women’s reproductive rights, we all need to come together and take action right now.
 
1)  Join us for a sign waving event this Friday, December 4th from 3:00-5:00 pm at the Prince Kuhio  Federal Building, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI.
2)  Contact Senator Akaka and Senator Inouye today.  Let them know that you want health care that will improve women’s lives – not interfere with them.

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Hawai`i’s Medical Cannabis Program to be discussed at public Talk Story event (10/21/2009)
HONOLULU – The Medical Cannabis Working Group (“Working Group”) announced today that they will be holding a public Medical Cannabis Talk Story on October 27, 2009 from 6:30-8pm at the Hawai`i State Capitol, Conference Room 329.  The Working Group invites all members of the public to share their concerns about Hawai`i’s medical cannabis program (also referred to as the medical marijuana program).
 
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ACLU Civil Liberties Talk-Story Set for Hilo (10/15/2009)
Hilo – As part of its 45th anniversary celebration, the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i (“ACLU”) will hold a free, public meeting on Friday, October 30th at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, room UCB 330, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 
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ACLU Community Event Set for Kahului (09/28/2009)
Kahului – As part of its 45th anniversary celebration, the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i (ACLU) will hold a free, public meeting on Friday, October 16 at Maui Community College, Ka Lama 103 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 
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ACLU Kicks off 45th Anniversary with Civil Liberties Symposium (09/16/2009)
Honolulu – The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i (ACLU) announced that it will kick off its 45th anniversary in Hawai‘i by hosting a free Civil Liberties Symposium on “Government-Imposed Morality” on Saturday, November 14th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. The Honorable Ronald T.Y. Moon, Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, will be the keynote speaker. Workshops for activists will offer the latest developments on issues such as discrimination based on sexual orientation or immigration status, reproductive rights, crime deterrence and prison reform, and privacy in an age of increased surveillance in all aspects of American life.
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