News & Commentary

ACLU of Hawaiʻi attorney Leilani Stacy has filed several winning habeas petitions. (Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026)

Locked Up Too Long? Legal Tactic Challenges Hawaiʻi ICE Detentions

Joaquin David Rico-Tapia had been held at Honolulu’s Federal Detention Center for six weeks when his attorney filed a special petition last September arguing he had been illegally detained as his deportation case went forward.

Latest Press Release

Oct 22, 2026

New ACLU Report Outlines 76 Ways Mass Deportation Destroys Democratic Institutions and Exacerbates Hawaii’s Affordability Crisis

ACLU Warns Sweeping Federal Immigration Mandates Will Cripple Hospitality and Agriculture Industries, Demands State and County Leaders Block Deployment of Local Police Resources
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Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.

Oct 29, 2026

ACLU of Hawaiʻi Board & Staff Retreat 2026

Our board & staff retreat offered space to step back, reconnect with our mission, and build stronger trust for the future we’re shaping.

BOARD STAFF 26
Oct 29, 2026

Trump’s War on Dissent — and the Fight to Defy It

ACLU of Hawaii’s Sergio Alcubilla joins legal experts to discuss the rising threat to protest rights and how to defend the 1st Amendment.

Refuse Fascism 26
Oct 28, 2026

Hawaiʻi Voting Guide 2026

Your ACLU of Hawaiʻi nonpartisan voter guide to the November ballot measures. Know what a YES or NO vote means for your rights.

HI VOTING GUIDE26
Oct 27, 2026

Star Advertiser – Column: Isles must resist surveillance state

Mass surveillance threatens our privacy. The ACLU of Hawaiʻi urges lawmakers to pass permanent statutory protections to safeguard our rights.

STAR ADV BERNARDO
Oct 27, 2026

Civil Beat – The ACLU Didn’t Need To Join This Fight

A Civil Beat op-ed covers the national ACLU joining a suit against Hawaii’s dark money law, noting the local ACLU chapter sat it out.

ACT 11 NO HI
Oct 27, 2026

KITV – Honolulu shopping cart bill sparks debate

The Honolulu shopping cart bill sparks a heated debate over civil rights and public property, prompting the ACLU of Hawaiʻi to address the issue. You can read more about this topic at ACLU of Hawaiʻi.

SHOPPING CARTS 26
Oct 22, 2026

KITV News — State downsizes proposed Oʻahu jail, but advocates say that doesn’t address the root of the problem

HI downsizes Oʻahu jail plan but builds expansion capacity. We need real systemic reforms—like diversion and housing—not shifted incarceration.

KITV1022
Oct 21, 2026

“Title Waves” Feature on ACLU of Hawaii’s Title IX Lawsuit Named Anthem Awards Finalist—Vote Today!

“Title Waves,” the @LongLead feature on our Title IX lawsuit, is a finalist for 2 Anthem Awards! Read, vote & help us win: bit.ly/TitleWaves4ContentAnthem

ANTHEM 26
Oct 20, 2026

KITV News – Hawaii lawmakers question DOJ’s shift to in-person immigration court hearings which creates travel challenges

Hawaiʻi lawmakers are demanding answers from the Department of Justice regarding its sudden shift back to mandatory, in-person immigration court hearings. This policy imposes severe financial and logistical travel challenges on residents of neighbor islands who must fly to Oʻahu for brief procedural appearances, ultimately threatening their access to due process.

KITV HI LAWMAKERS