(a) The civil rights commission has jurisdiction over the subject of real property transaction practices and discrimination made unlawful by this chapter. The commission has the following powers:

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Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 515-9

  • Commission: means the civil rights commission. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 515-2
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Discriminatory practice: means a practice designated as discriminatory under the terms of this chapter. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 515-2
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Interrogatories: Written questions asked by one party of an opposing party, who must answer them in writing under oath; a discovery device in a lawsuit.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: refers to the definition of section 1-19 and includes a legal representative, partnership, receiver, trust, trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, the State, or any governmental entity or agency. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 515-2
(1) To receive, initiate, investigate, seek to conciliate, hold hearings on, and pass upon complaints alleging violations of this chapter in accordance with the procedure established in chapter 368, except that investigations shall be completed within one hundred days and a final administrative disposition shall be made within one year of the date of the receipt of the complaint, unless impracticable to do so;
(2) At any time after a complaint is filed, to require answers to interrogatories, compel the attendance of witnesses, examine witnesses under oath or affirmation, and require the production of documents relevant to the complaint. Before a finding of reasonable cause, chapter 368 to the contrary notwithstanding, the commission may issue a notice of right to sue upon written request of the complainant which must be exercised within ninety days of receipt of the notice or one year after the filing of the complaint, whichever is later. The commission may make rules authorizing any individual designated to exercise these powers in the performance of official duties;
(3) Chapter 368 to the contrary notwithstanding, after a finding of reasonable cause, to notify the complainant, respondent, or an aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed, that an election may be made to file a civil action in lieu of an administrative hearing. The election must be made not later than twenty days after receipt by the electing party of the notice. The electing party shall be provided with a notice of right to sue which must be exercised within ninety days of receipt of that notice or one year after the filing of the complaint, whichever is later. The commission will provide legal representation to the complainant in the event of an election by any party. After the filing of a civil action, the parties may stipulate to have the matter remanded for an administrative hearing;
(4) To furnish technical assistance requested by persons subject to this chapter to further compliance with the chapter or an order issued thereunder;
(5) To make studies appropriate to effectuate the purposes and policies of this chapter and to make the results thereof available to the public;
(6) To render at least annually a comprehensive written report to the governor and to the legislature. The report may contain recommendations of the commission for legislative or other action to effectuate the purposes and policies of this chapter; and
(7) In accordance with chapter 91, to adopt rules to effectuate the purposes and policies of this chapter, including rules requiring the inclusion in advertising material of notices prepared or approved by the commission.
(b) Nothing in chapter 368 or this section shall be deemed to preclude an aggrieved person from filing a civil action for discriminatory practices made unlawful by this chapter no later than two years after the occurrence or the termination of an alleged discriminatory practice; provided that, notwithstanding § 368-12, the commission shall issue a right to sue on a complaint filed with the commission if it determines that a civil action alleging similar facts has been filed.
(c) In a civil action filed under subsection (b), the remedies ordered by the court may include remedies as provided under §§ 368-17 and 515-13 such as compensatory and punitive damages, legal and equitable relief, and reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

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