The ACLU of Hawai‘i is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization that has been protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of the Hawaiian Islands since its inception in 1965.
With help from community partners and volunteers, the ACLU of Hawai‘i works to ensure that the government does not violate fundamental constitutional rights of everyone — regardless of race, socioeconomic status, gender expression, sexual orientation, or anything else. We fight for smart justice reforms, abortion access, gender equity, the right to privacy. We fight for a safer, more just Hawai‘i.
Defending civil liberties in the state of Hawai‘i is a constant battle, but a rewarding one. We will continue to work daily in the courts, legislatures and out in the community to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. As an independent government watchdog, we are able to do this work with the support from individual donors.
"ACLU of Hawai‘i" and "ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation" - an important distinction.
The ACLU of Hawaii's work to protect fundamental freedoms is based on a three-pronged approach: lobbying, litigation and public education.
In order to support all three advocacy tools and to comply with federal law, it is necessary to have two organizational entities: the ACLU of Hawai‘i and the ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation. Fully funding both is vital to protecting civil liberties in throughout the Hawaiian Islands and across the country.
The ACLU of Hawai‘i is a 501(c)(4) corporation, therefore gifts to it are not tax-deductible. It is the membership organization, and you have to be a member to get your ACLU card. ACLU of Hawai‘i monies fund our legislative lobbying – important work that cannot be supported by tax-deductible funds. Thus, your membership dues support our lobbying efforts in both Washington, DC and in Hawai‘i.
The ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Foundation gifts support litigation and public education efforts. Gifts to the ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation are fully tax-deductible to the donor.
Many donors choose to make tax-deductible gifts to the ACLU of Hawai‘i Foundation and also make gifts to the ACLU of Hawai‘i in order to maintain their "card-carrying" membership status and to support our important legislative lobbying efforts.
Hawai‘i Civil Rights Voter Education Fund
The ACLU of Hawai‘i also manages a separate campaign-based 501(c)(4) corporation to promote civil rights, and equal access to voter education on ballot issues in the State of Hawaiʻi. This year the HCRVEF will focus it’s efforts on public education related to an upcoming vote for a constitutional amendment to repeal the Legislature's authority to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples.