Fair Housing & Equal Housing Opportunity
The County of Hawaiʻi Fair Housing Coordinator serves as a neutral party resource to provide information and to help facilitate the resolution to issues related to the Fair Housing Act.
The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination by direct providers, such as landlords and real estate companies as well as other entities, such as municipalities, banks, or other lending institutions and homeowners insurance companies whose discriminatory practices make housing unavailable to person because of:
- Race or Color
- Religion
- Sex
- National Origin
- Familial Status, or
- Disability
The State of Hawaiʻi Fair Housing Laws prohibits discrimination in all real estate or housing related activities on the basis of race, sex, including gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, color, religion, marital status, familial status, ancestry, disability, age, or HIV infection. Effective May 1, 2023, Act 310 prohibits discrimination against housing assistance program(Section 8) participants by many landlords.
Filing a Complaint
If you believe that your rights may have been violated, please submit your complaint as soon as possible. There are time limits on when a complaint can be filed after an alleged violation.
If you have additional questions or need assistance in completing any of the complaint forms, please call the County of Hawaiʻi, Office of Housing & Community Development to speak with the Fair Housing Coordinator at (808) 323-4304, email fairhousing@hawaiicounty.gov, or visit fairhousinghawaii.org.
File a Complaint with a Federal Agency: HUD
- Learn About Filing a Complaint With the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
- File a HUD Complaint Online or Print a Complaint Form
File a Complaint with a Hawaiʻi State Agency: HCRC
Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission (HCRC)
Princess Keʻelikolani Building
830 Punchbowl Street, Room 411
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813
Phone: 808-974-4000 Extension 68636#
- Call or Complete a Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission Pre-Complaint Questionnaire Form
Fair Housing Enforcement Program: Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi
This agency offers statewide services to victims of housing discrimination, regardless of their income or assets. If you believe that you are a victim of illegal housing discrimination, visit their website at fairhousinghawaii.org or call 1-866-527-FAIR (1-866-527-3247).
Fair Housing Resources
- Fair Housing Poster for Display
- Please call or visit the OHCD Kona or Hilo office for a FREE poster to hang at your housing facility
- DCCA Landlord Tenant Handbook (2024)
- HUD's Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
- Landlord Tenant Hotline: (808) 933-0910 Monday - Friday 8am - 12pm
- Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi – Fair Housing Program 1-800-499-4302 for neighbor islands, or (808) 536-4302 for general calls.
- Legal Aid Senior Hotline (60+yrs): 1-888-536-0011 ( Mon - Fri 1pm - 3:30pm)
- Parking for persons with disabilities
- HUD Multi-Family Complaint Hotline: 1-800-MULTI-70 (1-800-685-8470)
- Fair Housing Study 2019 - Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing: Phase 1 Report
- Fair Housing Study 2016 - Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing for People with Disabilities
- Fair Housing Study 2016 – Appendix for the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing for People with Disabilities Study
Fair Housing Partners
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- 1-800-347-3739
- Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission
- (808)974-4000 ext. 6-8636#
- Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi
- 1-800-499-4302
- Hawaiʻi Disability and Communication Access Board
- Hawaii County 974-4000 ext. 6-8121#
- Hawaiʻi Disabilities Rights Center
- (808)949-2922
- DCCA - Office of Consumer Protection
- (808)587-3222
Further Information
For more legal information (explanation of the law and the legal system) or for further technical assistance, please contact the following:
- Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi: (808) 536-4302
- Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission: (808) 586-8636
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: (808) 457-4677
- HSBA Lawyer Referral and Information Service: (808) 537-9140
If you feel you require legal advice, please speak with a private attorney.
Legal Disclaimer
This webpage is provided by the County of Hawaiʻi’s Office of Housing and Community Development for general information and educational purposes only. Nothing on this webpage may be considered or deemed to constitute legal advice. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, information may become outdated. The information presented should not be used by lawyers as a substitute for independent research or by non-lawyers as a substitute for legal or other advice.
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