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Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity in Housing

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Learn about your rights under the Federal and State of Hawaiʻi Fair Housing laws to end discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin/ancestry, familial status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, age and HIV infection.

Latest News and Information:

Fair Housing:

It is illegal to discriminate against any person in the sale, rental or financing of housing because of a protected class:

Federal Fair Housing Act

  • Race
  • Color
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • National origin
  • Familial Status
  • Disability

State of Hawaiʻi Fair Housing Laws

  • Race
  • Sex (including gender identity or gender expression)
  • Sexual orientation
  • Color
  • Religion
  • Marital Status
  • Familial status (including Hanai)
  • Ancestry
  • Disability
  • Age
  • HIV infection

Filing a Complaint

If you believe your rights may have been violated, here is how you can file a complaint:

Because there are time limits on when a complaint can be filed after an alleged violation, please submit your complaint as soon as possible and provide as much information including:

  • Names of parties involved
  • Address or other identification of the housing or program involved
  • Date(s) of the alleged violation
  • Description of the event(s) that cause you to believe your rights were violated

File a Complaint with HUD

Learn about filing a complaint with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

File a complaint with HUD online

File a Complaint in Hawaiʻi

Call or complete a Pre-Complaint Questionnaire form (download pdf form)

Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission
Princess Keʻelikolani Building
830 Punchbowl Street, Room 411
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813
Phone: 808-974-4000 extension 68636#

Fair Housing Enforcement Program – Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi

This agency offers statewide services to victims of housing discrimination, regardless of their income or assets. If you believe that you are a victim of illegal housing discrimination, visit their website at www.fairhousinghawaii.org or call 1-866-527-FAIR (1-866-527-3247)

If you have additional questions or need assistance in completing any of the complaint forms, please call the County of Hawaiʻi, Office of Housing and Community Development at 808-961-8379 or email fairhousing@hawaiicounty.gov

Fair Housing Resources:

Fair Housing Training for Private Landlords, Realtors, Resident Managers, Property Managers, AOAO Board Members, and the General Public.

Held each and every Thursday throughout the Month of April 2022

Sponsored by:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission

Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi

County of Kauai

City and County of Honolulu

County of Maui

County of Hawaiʻi

State of Hawaiʻi

Department of Human Services

Department of Hawaiian Homelands

Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation

Legal Disclaimer

The Statewide Fair Housing Conference is provided by these organizations for general information and educational purposes only.  Nothing on this webpage may be considered or deemed to constitute legal advice.  Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, information may become outdated.  The information presented should not be used by lawyers as a substitute for independent research or by non-lawyers as a substitute for legal or other advice.

  

2022 FAIR HOUSING TRAINING SESSION DATES AND TOPICS

APRIL 7th - FAIR HOUSING 101

(presented by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission)

This training session is completed.  It featured: an introduction of County Fair Housing agencies; an overview of who is responsible for components of Fair Housing responses, and; dealing fairly and equally difficult tenant and residents.

Training materials from this session can be found below. 

4/7 Session Materials

 

APRIL 14th - DISABILITIES, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS / REASONABLE MODIFICATIONS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

(presented by the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi and the Hawai'i Civil Rights Commission). 

This training session features an overview of the handling of disabilities, reasonable accommodations, reasonable modifications and assistance animals requests.

Training materials from this session can be found below.

4/14 Session Materials

 

APRIL 21st - CASE STUDIES IN FAIR HOUSING - Interactive examples of Fair Housing with conference attendees 

(presented by the Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i)

This training session features an overview of various actual fair housing cases. Session allows for audience interaction with panelists for hands on training and understanding of fair housing laws.

Training materials from this session can be found below.

4/15 Session Materials

 

APRIL 28th - ASK THE EXPERTS ABOUT FAIR HOUSING (featuring Philip Garboden, Carrie Ann Shirota, Paul Smith and Eric Ferrer)

(presented by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Hawai`i Civil Rights Commission, and the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi)

This training session features discussions and Q&A with a panel of Fair Housing experts.  Panel features Philip Garboden, Carrie Ann Shirota, Paul Smith and Eric Ferrer

Training Materials from this session can be found below.

4/28 Session Materials

  • Video: Ask the Experts  (2:33:16)
  • Biographies of Panelists  
  • Ask the Experts Presentations and/or Notes
    • PowerPoint Presentation of Panelist Dr. Philip Garboden
    • Notes of Panelist Paul Smith, Esq.
    • PowerPoint Presentation of Panelist Eric Ferrer, Esq.
    • PowerPoint Presentation of Panelist Carrie Ann Shirota, Esq.
  • Questions submitted to Chat Room, Q&A and via email during and after session

 

For more legal information (explanation of the law and the legal system) or for further technical assistance, please contact the following:

Legal Aid Society of Hawaii                                                              (808) 536-4302

Hawaii Civil Rights Commission                                                       (808) 586-8636

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development                 (808) 457-4677

HSBA Lawyer Referral and Information Service                             (808) 537-9140

If you feel you require legal advice, please speak with a private attorney.

Legal disclaimer:

This webpage is provided by the County of Hawaiʻi’s Office of Housing and Community Development for general information and educational purposes only. Nothing on this webpage may be considered or deemed to constitute legal advice. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, information may become outdated. The information presented should not be used by lawyers as a substitute for independent research or by non-lawyers as a substitute for legal or other advice.