AGENDA

September 16, 2026 at 11:30am Meeting to be Held Remotely via Zoom. 

Remote Meeting Link for September 16, 2026 Meeting at 11:30am:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4349599058?pwd=VlpKZDVmZ3MzYit5clJQTE1VekhOdz09&omn=82215329109

Meeting ID: 434 959 9058

Passcode: dER5Xy

Physical Meeting Location:

Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani Building

830 Punchbowl Street, Room 411

No board members will be present.

Upon request, a testifier can be made visible to Board members and other meeting participants using either the remote meeting link above or at the physical meeting location. 

Instructions to attend State of Hawaii Virtual Board meetings via Zoom: 

https://labor.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/State-of-Hawaii-Virtual-Board-Attendee- Instructions.pdf

1.    Call to Order

2.    Approval of the minutes of August 12, 2026 Commission Meeting

3.    Executive Director’s Report

a.    Mediation: Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission’s Mediation Program Year-to-Date Summary

b.    Data and Production regarding Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission’s Caseload Data, Comparison by Year, Age of Filed Cases, Year-to-Date Data

c.    Public responses, if any, to HCRC data and production report

4.    Chief Counsel’s Report

a.    MARCUS KAWATACHI, as Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission, on behalf of the Complaint filed by SHANNEL E. DIEDERIKS vs. Aliʻi Builders, LLC; Dkt. No. 25-002-E-SH-RET

                                                                 i.            Oral Arguments on Respondents written exceptions to the proposed decision set for October 14, 2026, 10am in the HCRC Conference Room

                                                                ii.            Executive Session: pursuant to HRS §§ 92-4 and 92-5, Attorney-client discussion to consult with the board's attorney on questions and issues pertaining to the board's powers and duties in preparation of the October Oral Arguments

b.    MARCUS KAWATACHI, as Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission, on behalf of the Complaint filed by FRANK RESURRECCION vs. K’S DRIVE-IN; Dkt. No. 25-003-E-D

c.    MARCUS KAWATACHI, as Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission, on behalf of the Complaint filed by SUSAN Y. MIURA v. HONG XI ZHANG and RUI YUN XIE; Dkt. No. 26-002-H-DIS-RET

                                                                i.            Case docketed on May 15, 2026 (180-day deadline to hold a contested case hearing expires on November 11, 2026)

                                                              ii.             Commission Action: Executive Director’s request for a 90-day extension of time to hold the hearing for good cause, pursuant to HAR § 12-46-46

•        On August 11, 2206, Hearings Examiner Tanigawa granted the Executive Director’s motion for his recusal.  Case reassigned to Hearings Examiner Adams on August 13, 2026 and contested case hearing tentatively reset for November 30, 2026

•        Respondent filed Position Statement on Executive Director’s Request, requesting original hearing date of November 2, 2026.

d.    MARCUS KAWATACHI, as Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission, on behalf of the Complaint filed by TATIANNA CHEONG v. FREDERICK ZANE TRUST; EVA ZANE TRUST; URBAN REAL ESTATE CO.; HARRIS ZANE, as an individual

5.    Act 257 (SLH 2026)– Digital Accessibility in Places of Public Accommodations (SB 2852)

a.    Status update: drafting stage, feedback from agencies and stakeholders

b.    Upcoming steps: Small Business Regulatory Review Board pre-hearing statement, public comments period on the rules, submission to governor for approval to hold public hearings

6.    Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 184

a.    Requires the Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission examine the applicability of existing state anti-discrimination laws to algorithmic and automated decision systems

b.    Status update: Anticipated draft of report to the legislature will be sent to Commissioners for review by November

7.    Presentation by Clean Slate Hawai‘i

a.    Overview of the Clean Slate Initiative/Coalition and the Clean Slate Bill, expanding opportunities for individuals with past arrest and court records

8.    Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission (HCRC) General Discussion

a.    Structure, Function, and Duties of HCRC

b.    Frequently Asked Questions and Staff Responses

c.    Public comment requesting HCRC’s support for upcoming legislation on the Speak Your Truth Act (HCRC had prior testimony in support of similar bill in 2024, SB2683)

9.    Announcements

a.    Next Commission Meeting date TBD 

10.  Adjournment 

If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact Constance Yonashiro at (808) 586-8642 or constance.m.yonashiro@hawaii.gov.  Requests made as early as possible will allow more time to fulfill your request if possible.

 Testimony can be submitted via e-mail to DLIR.HCRC.INFOR@hawaii.gov.  TESTIMONY in the title, or mailed to Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, 830 Punchbowl Street, Room 411, Honolulu, HI 96813. Oral testimony will also be accepted.

 Board packets, if prepared, will be available pursuant to H.R.S. § 92-7.5 and posted to the HCRC website under commission agendas.

If the remote connection (via Zoom) is lost, the meeting will be recessed for up to thirty (30) minutes to restore communication. If the connection is lost, we will attempt to restart the meeting again with the same link. If the Commission can reestablish audio communication only, the meeting will be reconvened and continue. If the Commission is unable to reconvene the meeting because neither audiovisual communication nor audio communication can be reestablished within thirty minutes, the meeting will be automatically terminated.

 If you have trouble entering the meeting, please contact Sandy at (808) 586-8659.