Prostitution in Hawaii is illegal [1] but common. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes section , both the buying and selling of sex are illegal, and also related activities such as soliciting , promoting prostitution and allowing premises to be used for prostitution, are prohibited.
It was legal for Law Enforcement Officers to have sex with prostitutes if they were 'collecting evidence' of prostitution. A new law in outlawed this practice. In May , a dozen Honolulu sex-workers were arrested during raids on massage parlours. Rather than being charged with prostitution they were charged with sexual assault , which carries far heavier penalties. When they were offering sex they touched the undercover officers genitals.
Bill Johnson of the National Association of Police Organisations said the change of Honolulu Police's tactics could be a way of adapting to prostitutes becoming aware of how undercover officers make arrests. A Bill was put before Hawaii's state government in January , with the intent of decriminalising prostitution.
On the second reading it was referred to the "House Committee on Judiciary" for further investigation and the case was adjourned sine die. Prior to European contact, there was no prostitution on the islands.
Polygamy was common and there was no need for prostitutes. Once European sailors started to come to the island and offered money or goods for sex to the native women, prostitution started. A law was passed in that prohibited "illicit connections," including prostitution.
