The Reality of Sex Trafficking in Hawaiʻi
In 2024, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 32,309 reports of sex trafficking nationwide.
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The national average age of first sexual exploitation is 14 years old.
In Hawaiʻi, children are first trafficked at an average age of 11.
On Hawaiʻi Island, the average age is just 8 years old.
These numbers reflect real children and families in our communities and signal the urgent need for prevention, education, and survivor centered support.
Sex trafficking is not just a distant issue it is happening here in Hawaiʻi and across the United States. Trafficking affects children and adults of all backgrounds and disproportionately impacts Native Hawaiian youth here in our islands. Survivors are often exploited through force, fraud, and coercion by people they know and trust.
Who Is Most Impacted in Hawaiʻi?
A 2020 study of 363 people in Hawaiʻi found:
84 trafficked children
13 trafficked adults
266 individuals who reported not being trafficked
Additional key findings include:
64% of victims identified as all or part Native Hawaiian
45% of victims lived on Oʻahu
22% were forced to use drugs
33% reported technology was used as part of their trafficking
Technology facilitated exploitation includes:online recruitment, social media messaging, gaming chats, dating platforms, and digital advertisements.
Myths vs. Facts About Sex Trafficking
These numbers reflect real children and families in our communities and signal the urgent need for prevention, education, and survivor-centered support.
Fact: Fewer than 10% of cases begin with kidnapping.Most traffickers use grooming, emotional manipulation, false promises, threats, and coercion.
Fact: At least 36% of traffickers are women.Women may be recruiters or co-exploiters and sometimes appear to “befriend” victims to gain trust.
Fact: 82% of trafficking cases occur within the United States.Trafficking happens in local neighborhoods, schools, hotels, homes, online platforms, and gaming environments.
Fact: 84% of victims were trafficked by a family member, friend, or romantic partner.Trafficking most often grows from an existing relationship not random encounters.
Fact: 35% of reported cases involve boys (23% in Hawaiʻi).Boys are significantly affected but often underreported due to stigma.
How Victims Are Controlled
Contrary to common belief, trafficking rarely looks like abduction scenes in films. Most traffickers rely on:
These dynamics make it difficult for victims, especially children, to recognize exploitation or seek help.
Why This Matters
The statistics represent more than numbers. They represent children losing their childhood, families facing trauma, and communities experiencing generational harm. Hawaiʻi’s cultural strength, ʻohana values, and commitment to keiki put us in a powerful position to respond.
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