Women's Rights Employment Law Blog

There is an increase in deaths involving domestic violence in Hawai’i. In fact all homicides recorded on the Big Island are as a result of domestic violence. Much of it is being blamed on lack of access to public educational programs.
A Honolulu paper today says:

Police statistics to the end of August show domestic abuse cases on the Big Island are running ahead of figures for last year in all parts of the island except for Hilo and Puna, said Lillian Tavares, domestic violence and sex assault victim service coordinator with Big Island police.

As of the end of August, there were 622 cases reported on the Big Island, compared with 582 for the same period the year before. The largest increases were in Kona and South Kohala, while the numbers of reported cases dropped in Hilo and Puna.

However, Tavares believes the true number of domestic violence cases is higher. She said some abuse cases may never be reported because the victims don't want family members to be jailed.