Human Trafficking

What killed Hawaii’s sex trafficking bill?
  • Discussion

A step in the right direction toward combating sex trafficking in Hawaii has been torpedoed by some of the very people trying to end the exploitive practice; the evidence points to internal political squabbling as the reason. Read More »

Will Caron
Sex trafficking ban must become law
  • Essay

If the governor vetoes Hawaii's proposed anti-sex trafficking law, the 50th state will remain the only state in the union without such a ban, and the islands will remain open for "business" to pimps and johns. Read More »

Kris Coffield
Prosecutor pushes governor to veto anti-sex trafficking bill
  • News Report

Hawaii's progressive sex-trafficking bill is in danger of being vetoed by the governor, at the Honolulu prosecutor's urging. Read More »

Will Caron
It’s time to ban sex trafficking in Hawaii
  • Essay

Hawaii is only one of two states that still does not possess a comprehensive sex trafficking ban. Here are three bills that would change that. Read More »

Kris Coffield
Bill proposes anti-sex trafficking law for Hawaii
  • Press Release

Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery and IMUAlliance are drafting and sponsoring a bill to ban sex trafficking in Hawaii this session. Read More »

Selling sex online
  • Feature

Developments in technology have made it easier than ever to sell sex and harder than ever to prosecute human trafficking crimes as sex rings move off the streets and onto websites. Read More »

Marina Riker
Disproportionate victims: the māhū prostitute
  • Feature

Discrimination forces many transgender women into prostitution to survive. But once in the sex trade, they are disproportionately effected by both violence and criminalization. Read More »

Marina Riker
Hawaii: sex trafficking hub of the Pacific
  • Feature

Prostitution is a major industry in Hawaii, but with no sex trafficking laws on the books, the victims involved in the industry have no protection and no easy way out. Read More »

Marina Riker
Selling sex in paradise
  • Feature

Prostitution is a diverse, thriving industry in Honolulu, but misinformation about the highly varied nature of sex trafficking makes it harder to change laws that could provide protection to victims. Read More »

Marina Riker