Human Trafficking in Hawaii

Special Challenges of Human Trafficking in Hawai’i

•Geographic Constraints•Ethnic Diversity hampers services for

potential victims•The after-effects of failed prosecutions

Geographic Constraints

Geographically, Hawai’i is in the middle of the ocean.

With Ocean all around, quick and cheap escapes are hard to achieve

Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers, in their own countries and abroad.

Ethnic Diversity Hampers Services for Potential Victims

Hawai’i’s migrant labor force is much more ethnically diverse than in most mainland states.

Agricultural laborers in Hawai’i come from Mexico, Southeast Asia, Micronesia, or other Pacific Islands –Micronesian workers alone speak a dozen different

languages.

Service Providers find it hard to get access to appropriate translation services, and outreach programs have tough choices about the language and cultural style of public service announcements aimed at informing potential victims of their rights and options to get help.

The After-Effects of Failed Prosecution

Hawai’i is one of only a handful of states with no law that specifically targets human or sex trafficking.

Pick any night in Waikiki and you’ll see prostitutes plying their trade, pimps protecting their property, and the darker side of night life screaming “Sex for Sale.”- Hawaii News Now

Highly publicized failures at prosecution may lead victims to be unsure about what counts as illegal human trafficking and cause perpetrators to think they can get away with exploiting workers.

Topic Resource

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