HONOLULU (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced May 30 that three related Hawaii tour companies – Discovering Hidden Hawaii Tours Inc., Hawaii Tours and Transportation Inc., and Big Kahuna Luau Inc. – will pay $570,000 after allegations of sexual harassment.
A group of male employees was subjected to repeated sexual harassment from the male president of Discovering Hidden Hawaii Tours, according to allegations.
"This settlement sends an unequivocal message that accountability is required regardless of who the alleged harasser is and no one is above the law under Title VII," said Anna Park, regional attorney for the EEOC's Los Angeles District, which includes Hawaii in its jurisdiction, in a statement. "The EEOC will continue to relentlessly enforce laws against any sexual harassment in workplaces."
In addition to a monetary penalty, the companies will need to create an independent complaint process and appoint an external equal employment opportunity consultant for three years.
"Unfortunately, our society still stigmatizes the victims, not the perpetrators, of sexual harassment,” Glory Gervacio Saure, director of the EEOC's Honolulu Local Office, said in a statement. “Especially in light of the #MeToo movement, it is critical for victims to speak up, despite the stigma, so that we can effectively address sexual harassment in the workplace."