How many domestic violence resources are in Hawaii?

Women's Corner tracks 16 domestic violence resources for women in Hawaii.

Are domestic violence resources in Hawaii free?

16 of the 16 listed domestic violence resources in Hawaii are explicitly free or low-cost.

Which cities in Hawaii have domestic violence resources?

Listings span cities including Honolulu, Maui, Hilo, Lihue.

What are some examples of domestic violence resources in Hawaii?

Featured entries include National Domestic Violence Hotline, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence Action Center — Honolulu, Women Helping Women — Maui, Child & Family Service — Hawaii Island DV.

Do these listings include phone numbers?

6 of 16 Hawaii domestic violence listings include phone numbers.

How do I get a restraining order?

Go to your county's family or civil courthouse and ask the clerk for a 'protective order' or 'order of protection' petition — no attorney or filing fee required. Temporary ex parte orders can be issued the same day. A full hearing follows within 10–21 days. Court advocates and DV agencies help fill out forms; bring any evidence (texts, photos, police reports).

Where can I go right now if I'm not safe?

Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788) — they connect you to your nearest shelter, arrange emergency transport, and help with a safety plan. Shelters are confidential, free, and 24/7. If you're in immediate danger, call 911 and ask for a DV advocate at the scene.

Will the shelter take my kids?

Yes. Domestic violence shelters accept women with children — most accommodate boys up to age 17 (a few have age limits around 12–13 for older boys, and will arrange alternate placement nearby). Pets are increasingly welcome through programs like RedRover and Sheltering Animals & Families Together. Bring kids' birth certificates, school records, and any medications if you can.

Is the hotline really free and confidential?

Yes — the National DV Hotline and all state DV hotlines are free, confidential, anonymous, available 24/7, and offered in 200+ languages. Advocates don't report to police, immigration, or CPS unless you request it (mandatory reporting applies only to active child abuse). You can call to plan, vent, or just ask questions before deciding anything.

Best Domestic Violence in Hawaii — 16 resources

About Domestic Violence for Women

Domestic violence services for women are anchored by the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE), the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and a state coalition in every state coordinated through the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). VAWA funds shelters, transitional housing, legal services, and immigration relief (U-visa, T-visa, VAWA self-petition). Survivors can obtain civil protective orders, address-confidentiality through state ACP programs, and victim advocates through local prosecutor offices. The National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE) and StrongHearts Native Helpline serve specific survivor populations. This directory includes hotlines, shelters, state DV coalitions, and protective order resources.

Domestic Violence in Hawaii

Hawaii's Family Court is a division of the Circuit Court and operates in each of its four judicial circuits (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, Kauai). The Child Support Enforcement Agency operates under the Attorney General. Honolulu is the largest population center. Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence serve women.

16 Resources

1. National Domestic Violence Hotline — Free

The National DV Hotline at 800-799-7233 is the front door for any Hawaii survivor who isn't sure where to start — advocates can warm-transfer to HSCADV, DVAC, or a neighbor island program based on the caller's location. Text START to 88788 or chat online if speaking isn't safe. Services in 200+ languages, 24/7, completely free and confidential.

800-799-7233 · Statewide Phone Service · 24/7 · Visit Website

2. Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence — Free

HSCADV is the statewide coalition that connects, trains, and coordinates every DV program in the islands — DVAC on Oahu, Women Helping Women on Maui, the Child & Family Service program on Hawaii Island, and YWCA Kauai. The Umi Street office at 808-832-9316 doesn't take direct survivor intake but knows exactly which member shelter has a bed open tonight. Open Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm.

808-832-9316 · 716 Umi St Suite 210, Honolulu, HI 96819 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Domestic Violence Action Center — Honolulu — Free

DVAC is Oahu's lead legal-advocacy organization for survivors, providing free TRO help, Family Court accompaniment, civil legal representation, and the Pasifika Project for Pacific Islander women. The office line is 808-531-3771 weekdays 8am to 5pm; the 24/7 hotline handles emergencies after hours. Confidential mailing address — survivors do not need to disclose their location to receive help.

808-531-3771 · P.O. Box 3198, Honolulu, HI 96801 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; Hotline 24/7 · Visit Website

4. Women Helping Women — Maui — Free

Women Helping Women is the lead DV agency for Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, operating the only emergency shelter in Maui County and a 24/7 crisis line at 808-579-9581. Services include legal advocacy at Maui Family Court, children's counseling, and supported transitional housing. Shelter location is confidential — call first; never go directly to a shelter address.

808-579-9581 · Maui, HI (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline

5. Child & Family Service — Hawaii Island DV — Free

Child & Family Service runs the lead DV shelter and advocacy program for Hawaii Island from a confidential Hilo location, with outreach offices in Kona and Waimea. The 24/7 crisis line at 808-959-8864 can dispatch advocates to the hospital, police station, or Family Court for survivors in active crisis. Services include shelter, counseling, and legal advocacy at no cost.

808-959-8864 · Hilo, HI (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

6. YWCA of Kauai — DV Services — Free

YWCA Kauai operates Kauai County's only DV emergency shelter and the YWCA Family Violence Shelter and Sexual Assault Treatment Programs out of a confidential Lihue location. The 24/7 line is 808-245-6362. Advocates accompany survivors to Kauai Family Court for TRO filings and handle children's advocacy alongside adult services.

808-245-6362 · Lihue, HI (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

7. National Domestic Violence Hotline (online) — Free

Thehotline.org offers chat support 24/7 — useful in Hawaii when a survivor is in a household where calls can be overheard. Advocates can build a safety plan, identify the closest local shelter, and stay on chat for as long as needed. The site also explains protective orders, custody implications, and immigration relief like VAWA self-petitions.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. Loveisrespect — Free

Loveisrespect targets teens and young adults experiencing dating abuse — a population Hawaii high school and college advocates often refer to. Text LOVEIS to 22522 or chat at loveisrespect.org. Counselors can talk a young woman through a safety plan that fits a high school or UH dorm setting without involving police if she isn't ready.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. StrongHearts Native Helpline — Free

StrongHearts at 1-844-7NATIVE serves Native American and Alaska Native survivors with culturally rooted advocacy — useful for Native Hawaiian survivors when paired with NHLC and Ku Aloha Ola Mau, since StrongHearts also welcomes calls from Pacific Islander survivors. Confidential and free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence — Free

NCADV is the national policy and coalition body that backs state coalitions like HSCADV. Their resources include safety planning checklists, financial-abuse recovery tools, and the long-running personalized financial empowerment curriculum that some Hawaii advocates use with survivors rebuilding after leaving.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Futures Without Violence — Free

Futures Without Violence develops the trainings that many Hawaii healthcare providers, schools, and DV advocates use, including the universal education approach to intimate partner violence screening. Their public resources help a survivor understand what supportive responses to look for from her own providers.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. DomesticShelters.org — Free

DomesticShelters.org lists every DV shelter and program in Hawaii with current bed counts, services offered, and intake hours — useful when the first call doesn't connect or when a survivor wants to know the second-closest option in case the primary shelter is full. Search by ZIP code or island.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence — Free

APIGBV develops the culturally specific resources Hawaii advocates use when serving Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Samoan, Tongan, Marshallese, and other AAPI survivors. Resources address shame, family structure, immigration status, and language access — barriers that mainstream DV programs sometimes miss.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Casa de Esperanza — Free

Casa de Esperanza serves Latina survivors nationally with bilingual advocacy and the National Latin@ Network. While Hawaii's Latino population is smaller than mainland states, the network's Spanish-language safety planning tools are valuable for the islands' Spanish-speaking residents and military families relocating from Latin America.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) — Free

OVW is the US DOJ office that administers the federal Violence Against Women Act funding flowing to Hawaii — including grants to HSCADV, tribal-equivalent funding for Native Hawaiian programs, and prosecutor training dollars. The public site is useful for understanding how a Hawaii case might qualify for federal protections.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. RAINN — Sexual Assault Hotline — Free

RAINN's 1-800-656-HOPE line connects Hawaii survivors of sexual assault to the closest rape crisis program — including the Sex Abuse Treatment Center on Oahu and the YWCA Kauai sexual assault program. Available 24/7 by phone and online chat, in English and Spanish, completely free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many domestic violence resources are in Hawaii?: Women's Corner tracks 16 domestic violence resources for women in Hawaii.
Are domestic violence resources in Hawaii free?: 16 of the 16 listed domestic violence resources in Hawaii are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Hawaii have domestic violence resources?: Listings span cities including Honolulu, Maui, Hilo, Lihue.
What are some examples of domestic violence resources in Hawaii?: Featured entries include National Domestic Violence Hotline, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence Action Center — Honolulu, Women Helping Women — Maui, Child & Family Service — Hawaii Island DV.
Do these listings include phone numbers?: 6 of 16 Hawaii domestic violence listings include phone numbers.
How do I get a restraining order?: Go to your county's family or civil courthouse and ask the clerk for a 'protective order' or 'order of protection' petition — no attorney or filing fee required. Temporary ex parte orders can be issued the same day. A full hearing follows within 10–21 days. Court advocates and DV agencies help fill out forms; bring any evidence (texts, photos, police reports).
Where can I go right now if I'm not safe?: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788) — they connect you to your nearest shelter, arrange emergency transport, and help with a safety plan. Shelters are confidential, free, and 24/7. If you're in immediate danger, call 911 and ask for a DV advocate at the scene.
Will the shelter take my kids?: Yes. Domestic violence shelters accept women with children — most accommodate boys up to age 17 (a few have age limits around 12–13 for older boys, and will arrange alternate placement nearby). Pets are increasingly welcome through programs like RedRover and Sheltering Animals & Families Together. Bring kids' birth certificates, school records, and any medications if you can.
Is the hotline really free and confidential?: Yes — the National DV Hotline and all state DV hotlines are free, confidential, anonymous, available 24/7, and offered in 200+ languages. Advocates don't report to police, immigration, or CPS unless you request it (mandatory reporting applies only to active child abuse). You can call to plan, vent, or just ask questions before deciding anything.