Events

Join the ACLU of Hawaiʻi for an evening celebrating our collective wins from the 2026 legislative session at an open mic pau hana! Whether it’s a live performance of poetry, music, or another art form, we also invite you to share your talents with the community. Please register to attend or perform by Friday, May 15. Spots for open-mic performances are limited, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible. Light refreshments will be provided. Drinks from Café VNTG will be available for purchase during the event. Parking: Street parking is recommended.

Once again, communities of faith and our youth are leading the march for civil rights and the rule of law. Join us as we march to the Capitol for the No Dictators 3.0 protest! We will convene at Thomas Square (parking available at the Blaisdell Center) at 9:30am — coffee and pastries available — and begin the march to the Hawai‘i State Capitol at 10:15am. Contact Irwin Jiang ([email protected]) or Dianne Brookins ([email protected]) for details and pre-event activities (poster making, etc.) This is the Moment. This is the Movement. Come be a part of it!

This presentation will provide an overview of the increased immigration enforcement nationwide and in Hawai'i, and cover legal information and basic "Know Your Rights" materials in the context of immigration arrests, protests, and how to interact with ICE agents. This KYR training will be conducted by ACLU of Hawai‘i Immigrants' Rights Attorney Leilani Stacy.

On February 28, the ACLU of Hawai‘i hosted its third annual community Iftar Dinner — an evening of reflection on how we can cultivate refuge, peace, and solidarity to build a true and lasting foundation of belonging across our communities. At its heart, Iftar is far more than just the meal that breaks the fast during Ramadan. While the food is certainly a highlight, the true essence of the evening lies in its ability to pause and bring a community together for a shared moment of recalibration and reconnection. Watch a reel from the evening here.

The ACLU of Hawai‘i conducted a virtual Habeas 101 Training for legal professionals and advocates interested in learning about habeas petitions in the immigration context. This training covers the basic components of a petition and focus on how immigration law practitioners can identify detained clients who may be eligible for a petition. It was held as a Zoom Webinar by our Immigrants' Rights Attorney Leilani Stacy and ACLU of Massachusetts Managing Attorney Dan McFadden.

Join us for a transformative two-day leadership training designed to strengthen faith-based community organizing in Hawaiʻi. Led by experienced facilitators from Organizing For Mission Network, the event will feature a mix of workshops and hands-on learning. We will equip faith leaders, organizers, and community advocates with essential skills to drive social change. Registration Cost: Lunch & Learn - $20.00 One Day - $30.00 Two Days - $50.00

On January 20, the ACLU of Hawai‘i hosted a conversation about collective resistance in the face of increasing attacks on our democracy and civil rights. This talk featured Emily Hills, our Senior Staff Attorney, as the main speaker. She tackled questions such as: What can we do to resist the rise of a dictatorship? What must be protected to prevent democratic backsliding? How can we stay safe in a system that increasingly punishes dissent? Links to resources: Training slides The Checklist for Ending Tyranny Breaking Down Pillars of Support for Democratic Backsliding Effective Strategies to Resist Democratic Backsliding Watch a full recording of the talk below:

On January 15, 2026, the ACLU of Hawai‘i and the Policing Project at NYU School of Law held a panel discussion on police accountability and building a community-led vision for a safer Hawai‘i. Moderated by Kelly McConney Moore (Policing Project Deputy Director of Legislation), this conversation brought together Wookie Kim (ACLU-HI Legal Director) and Josh Parker (Policing Project Deputy Director of Policy) to share their expertise. Watch a full recording of the panel below:

On January 13, 2026, ACLU National President Deborah Archer gave a talk on racial justice, civil rights, and the inequality of our contemporary justice systems at the William S. Richardson School of Law. The talk was moderated by William S. Richardson School of Law Constitutional Law Professor Nicholas McLean. This event was co-sponsored by Davis Levin First Amendment Conference and WSRSL. Watch a full recording of the panel below: