Hirono bill amends Violence Against Women Act to include funding for Native Hawaiians

US Senator Mazie Hirono has been an advocate for Native Hawaiians.

The US Senate unanimously passed legislation  Nov. 16 allowing Native Hawaiian survivors of gender-based violence to access critical programs and resources provided by Congress through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

More than two-thirds of sex trafficking victims in Hawaii are Native Hawaiian women and girls, and 37% of reported child sex trafficking cases in Hawaii are Native Hawaiian, according to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Yet, the nonprofits established to assist these victims have not been able to access federal grants.

"It would likely shock many of my colleagues to learn about the gender-based violence and sex-trafficking numbers in Hawaii," said Sen. Mazie Hirono, who sponsored the legislation that would amend the VAWA to allow agencies to apply for federal funding. "And of sex trafficking survivors in Hawaii—over 70 percent are Native Hawaiian women and girls. But yet, Native Hawaiian organizations cannot actually serve Native Hawaiian women through these grants."

The reauthorization of VAWA—which was signed into law in March, 2022—provides funding to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, sex-trafficking, dating violence and stalking. Senator Hirono’s legislation amends the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to ensure Native Hawaiian organizations can actually serve the Native Hawaiian community.

Indigenous women across the country—including Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women — experience disproportionately high levels of sexual violence.

Therefore, VAWA includes Services, Training, Officers Prosecutors (STOP) grants to provide funding for eligible Native-serving nonprofits, including Native Hawaiian organizations, to help combat sexual violence and support survivors. However, because of how the law was written, while Native Hawaiian organizations are able to apply for STOP grant funding, they cannot use the funds to actually serve the Native Hawaiian community. As a result, Native Hawaiian women have been unable to access critical resources included in VAWA.

According to census data, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander groups make up 10.5% of today's Hawaii’s population. However, they constitute the majority of sex trafficking cases. When looking at just child sex trafficking cases, Native Hawaiians represent 37% of victims statewide. 

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Sen. Hirono's bill will allow more aid to Native Hawaiian victims of gender abuse.

Hirono, one of only two Senators of AANHPI descent, has been a strong advocate for the Native Hawaiian community and efforts to combat violence against Native Hawaiians. In August, she pressed FBI Director Christopher Wray to do more to protect the Native Hawaiian community from sexual exploitation at a full Judiciary Committee hearing and emphasized the need for the FBI to include the Native Hawaiian community in its efforts to address the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis and violence against Native communities. In May, she joined a resolution designating May 5th as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Hirono's VAWA amendment goes to the White House where President Biden is expected to sign the bill.

“For decades, Congress has provided funding to organizations that support survivors of gender-based violence through the Violence Against Women Act. This funding is critical to support all women, including Native women who experience disproportionately high levels of sexual violence. However, Native Hawaiian women have been excluded from accessing these much-needed resources,” said Hirono.

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