Sex abuse claims in the Catholic Church in Hawaii

Hawaii enacted a 2-year civil SOL lookback window for childhood sexual abuse in 2012, which expired. Hawaii's current standard civil SOL for childhood sexual abuse is 8 years after the survivor turns 18 (age 26). The Diocese of Honolulu has published a credibly accused clergy list and settled multiple claims. No Hawaii diocese has filed for bankruptcy. Survivors under age 26 may still have viable claims under Hawaii's standard SOL. Older survivors should consult an attorney about remaining options under any applicable tolling provisions.

Hawaii's revival window ran from April 24, 2012 through April 24, 2020 and, under HRS 657-1.8, reached both perpetrators and the institutions that employed or supervised them; nearly 60 priests connected to Hawaii's Catholic Church have been publicly accused. For abuse occurring on or after July 1, 2024, the civil deadline is substantially longer — generally to the survivor's 50th birthday or within five years of connecting the injury to the abuse. Clergy claims are typically filed in the Hawaii Circuit Court for the island where the abuse occurred.

Survivors unsure whether their claim is timely should have it reviewed rather than assume the window has closed. Confidential, believe-first support is available through the Sex Abuse Treatment Center of Hawai'i, RAINN at 1-800-656-4673, and SNAP.