Haw. Rev. Stat. § 515 § 515-8
Religious institutions.
Operative Text
It is not a discriminatory practice for a religious institution or organization or a charitable or educational organization operated, supervised, or controlled by a religious institution or organization to give preference to members of the same religion in a real property transaction, unless membership in such religion is restricted on account of race, color, or ancestry. [L 1967, c 193, §8; HRS §515-8; am L 1971, c 124, §5; am L 1992, c 171, §8]
Hawaii Revised Statutes § 515-8 carves out a limited exception to the state's fair housing rules for religious organizations. Under this provision, a religious institution—or a charitable or educational organization it controls—may lawfully favor members of its own faith when conducting real property transactions. This exception does not apply, however, if membership in that religion is itself restricted based on race, color, or ancestry; in that case, the preference would still constitute unlawful discrimination.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners or managers operating under the umbrella of a religious institution should understand that § 515-8 permits faith-based preferences in real property transactions only within defined boundaries. A compliant operator ensures that any membership criteria used to extend such a preference are not tied to race, color, or ancestry in any way. Organizations that rely on this exemption typically maintain clear documentation of their religious affiliation and the nature of their membership policies to demonstrate that the exception's conditions are met.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you believe you were denied housing or treated unfavorably in a real property transaction by a religiously affiliated organization, § 515-8 may be relevant to understanding whether a lawful exemption applies or was improperly invoked. The exemption does not shield a religious organization that restricts its own membership on the basis of race, color, or ancestry, meaning a denial rooted in those characteristics would not be protected. Tenants who believe they have experienced unlawful discrimination can explore filing a complaint with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission or consult a tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 23, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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