The Strength of Women is in Our Unity

The mission of the Hawai'i State Commission on the Status of Women is to ensure equality for women and girls in the state by acting as a catalyst for positive change through advocacy, education, collaboration, and program development.

Click on the buttons below to find out more about the Commission and what resources it can offer you.

The duties of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women are established by statute and include:

(1) Acting as a central clearinghouse and coordinating body for governmental and nongovernmental activities and information relating to the status of women;

(2) Creating public awareness and understanding of the responsibilities, needs, potentials, and contributions of women and their roles in the changing society;

(3) Recommending legislative and administrative action on equal treatment and opportunities for women;

(4) Encouraging a long-range program of education of women in their political rights and responsibilities, particularly with respect to their voting duties;

(5) Maintaining contacts with appropriate federal, state, local, and international agencies concerned with the status of women;

(6) Cooperating and collaborating with national groups on the status of women and arrange for participation by representatives of the State in White House conferences and other national conferences from time to time; and

(7) Administering funds allocated for its work. (Section 367-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes)

The "Status of Women in Hawaii" Report

The Institute for Women's Policy Research has released the third edition of a series of reports which examine the status of women across the nation. Hawaii was among the nine states to be selected for a report by the Institute. Women in Hawaii exemplify both the achievements and shortfalls of women's progress over the past century. Of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Hawaii scores in the top ten on three composite indices: first in health and well-being, third in reproductive rights, and seventh in economic autonomy. However, the state ranks near the bottom of all states, at 49th for women in managerial and professional occupations and it ranks below the mid-point for all states at 29th for women in poverty.

The report is available for $10 each (add $3.85 each for mailing) at:

Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women
235 S. Beretania Street #407 Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-5757
Fax: (808) 586-5756

This page updated on September 4, 2005 .

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