Haw. Rev. Stat. § 368 § 368-17
Remedies.
Operative Text
(a) The remedies ordered by the commission or the court under this chapter may include compensatory and punitive damages and legal and equitable relief, including, but not limited to: (1) Hiring, reinstatement, or upgrading of employees with or without back pay; (2) Admission or restoration of individuals to labor organization membership, admission to or participation in a guidance program, apprenticeship training program, on-the-job training program, or other occupational training or retraining program, with the utilization of objective criteria in the admission of persons to those programs; (3) Admission of persons to a public accommodation or an educational institution; (4) Sale, exchange, lease, rental, assignment, or sublease of real property to a person; (5) Extension to all persons of the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of the respondent; (6) Reporting as to the manner of compliance; (7) Requiring the posting of notices in a conspicuous place that the commission may publish or cause to be published setting forth requirements for compliance with civil rights law or other relevant information that the commission determines necessary to explain those laws; (8) Payment to the complainant of damages for an injury or loss caused by a violation of part I of chapter 489, chapter 515, part I of chapter 378, or this chapter, including a reasonable attorney's fee; (9) Payment to the complainant of all or a portion of the costs of maintaining the action before the commission, including reasonable attorney's fees and expert witness fees, when the commission determines that award to be appropriate; and (10) Other relief the commission or the court deems appropriate. (b) Section 386-5 notwithstanding, a workers' compensation claim or remedy does not bar relief on complaints filed with the commission. [L 1989, c 386, pt of §1; am L 1991, c 252, §7; am L 2001, c 55, §17(5)]
Hawaii Revised Statutes § 368-17 sets out the range of remedies that the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission or a court may order when a civil rights violation is established under Chapter 368 or related statutes. These remedies span both compensatory and punitive damages as well as equitable relief, covering areas such as employment, housing, public accommodations, and education. The provision also clarifies that having a workers' compensation claim does not prevent a person from separately seeking relief through the commission.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 368-17, property owners and managers who are found to have violated fair housing or civil rights laws—including Chapter 515 (fair housing) or Part I of Chapter 489—may be ordered to complete a transaction such as a sale, lease, rental, or sublease that was wrongfully denied. Compliant operators generally maintain nondiscriminatory practices in all real property transactions and post required notices in conspicuous locations as directed by the commission. Operators also remain aware that attorney's fees and expert witness costs may be awarded against a respondent found in violation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 368-17 outlines the relief available to tenants and housing applicants who successfully bring a complaint before the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission alleging discrimination in the rental, sale, or leasing of real property. If a violation is found, remedies can include being granted the housing opportunity that was wrongfully denied, compensatory and punitive damages, and reimbursement of reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs. Tenants who believe their rights have been violated may consider filing a complaint with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission or consulting a tenant-rights organization to understand the full range of options available under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 23, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
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