Hawai‘i Launches ‘No Hate in the 808’ Bus Campaign to Educate on Civil Rights

Key facts

• Campaign runs May 1-31 in Honolulu and Hawaii counties, with digital ads on social media.
• Partners: Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, Commission on the Status of Women, Civil Rights Commission, and nonprofit Rainbow Family 808.
• 379 discrimination complaints were filed statewide last year; 58 in Hawaii County.
• Ads include QR codes linking to the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission website.
• Organizers hope to expand to Kauai and Maui counties.
• Discrimination is prohibited in employment, housing, public accommodations, and state-funded services based on sex, gender identity, disability, age, race, and more.

A New Front in the Fight Against Discrimination

Starting Friday, Hele-On buses across O‘ahu and the Big Island will carry advertisements that do not promote a product but a principle: that every resident deserves to know their civil rights. The campaign, called “No Hate in the 808,” is the first joint public-awareness initiative by three state commissions — the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission — in partnership with the nonprofit Rainbow Family 808. The ads aim to educate riders about Hawaii’s nondiscrimination laws and provide resources for those who experience bias. “It was envisioned as a partnership with other commissions so we can all spread our budgets further,” said Michael Golojuch Jr., vice chair of the LGBTQ+ Commission, paraphrasing a proverb: “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go further, go together.”

Why Buses? Reaching Riders Where They Are

The choice of buses as the primary medium is deliberate. Golojuch noted that on Hawaii County, long distances between stops give passengers time to read the information-dense ads. “I know in Hawaii County, you have quite a bit of distance between bus stops, so there’s going to be time for them to read the entire thing,” he said. For those who cannot absorb it all on the go, QR codes on the ads direct riders to the Civil Rights Commission’s website and to pages about the partner commissions and Rainbow Family 808. The campaign also includes targeted digital advertising on social media platforms, further extending its reach. The bus ads will run through May 31 in Honolulu and Hawaii counties, with organizers already reaching out to Kauai and Maui to expand the initiative later.

A Gap Between Rights and Awareness

Leaders from all three commissions said they believe most Hawaii residents do not fully understand the scope of their civil rights. State law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and state-funded services based on sex, gender identity, disability, age, race, and other categories. “This is a great way for us to meet that mandate of making sure that our community knows that these are the rights you have, but your rights are only there if you use them,” Golojuch said. Llasmin Chaine, executive director of the Commission on the Status of Women, expressed optimism that the education campaign could reduce barriers to reporting. “I really feel like once we inform folks of their rights and the protections that are available and let them know where to report, that we can reduce barriers to getting reporting happening and then improving folks’ circumstances,” she said.

The Numbers Behind the Campaign

The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission received 379 discrimination complaints statewide last year, 58 of which originated in Hawaii County. Marcus Kawatachi, the commission’s executive director, said a rise in complaints following the campaign would be a double-edged signal. “If there’s a huge jump for the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, that means we have a huge problem,” he said. “So if there’s a huge spike for them, then there’s a bigger question that we need to address when it comes to understanding discrimination.” would not necessarily mean more discrimination is occurring, but rather that more people are aware of their rights and willing to come forward — a goal the campaign explicitly seeks.

A Broader Climate of Concern

The campaign arrives amid a perceived uptick in discrimination, particularly against the LGBTQ+ community. Rapha Shvartsman, a student liaison at the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s LGBTQ+ Center, said they had noticed an increase in bias incidents on campus, influenced by the current political climate. While the campaign does not directly address campus dynamics, it provides a statewide framework for reporting and redress. In a joint statement, the three commissions said: “Together, we are sending a clear message: discrimination is unlawful, unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” The statement also emphasized that Hawaii has “some of the most comprehensive civil rights protections in the nation, but those protections only matter if people know their rights.”

Outlook: From Awareness to Action

The “No Hate in the 808” campaign is supported in part by nonprofit advertising programs from both participating counties, which help expand community reach without straining public budgets. Organizers hope the initiative will not only inform but also empower residents to exercise their rights and report violations. If the campaign proves successful, it could serve as a model for other states seeking to bridge the gap between legal protections and public knowledge. For now, the message is clear: on every bus, in every digital ad, Hawaii is telling its residents that discrimination has no place in the islands — and that help is available.

The bottom line

• The ‘No Hate in the 808’ campaign places civil-rights education ads on Hele-On buses and social media, running May 1-31 in Honolulu and Hawaii counties.
• It is a first-of-its-kind partnership among three state commissions and a nonprofit, sharing resources to maximize reach.
• Hawaii law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and state-funded services on multiple grounds, but many residents are unaware of these protections.
• Last year, 379 discrimination complaints were filed statewide; officials hope the campaign will increase reporting, not necessarily incidents.
• The campaign includes QR codes for easy access to reporting resources and information about partner organizations.
• Organizers plan to expand to Kauai and Maui counties and are already in talks with those counties.