The Judiciary in Hawaii has expanded access to free menstrual products by installing dispensers in restrooms at two more of its facilities. This initiative brings the total number of locations across the state offering free feminine hygiene products to eight. The new installations are at Hale Hilinaʻi in Honolulu, which houses Juvenile Client Services programs, and at the Ronald T. Y. Moon Judiciary Complex in Kapolei, the home for Family Court on Oʻahu.
Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald emphasized the importance of accessibility within the legal system, stating, “We believe that everyone deserves to navigate the legal system with dignity and without the added stress of period poverty. Providing free menstrual products is a fundamental step towards creating a more equitable and inclusive environment for all those who enter our courthouses.”
Judiciary Innovations Officer Angela Min remarked on the significance of the installations, saying, “It has been especially gratifying installing a dispenser at Hale Hilinaʻi and making these products available to youth in Girls Court and the Juvenile Drug Court. These dispensers are part of our ongoing effort to reduce barriers people may face when going to court. Our primary goal is to ensure that everyone who enters our facilities feels safe and respected. Providing free menstrual products is a simple, yet crucial, step in upholding that commitment.”
The effort is supported by the Maʻi Movement, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending period poverty. Dispensers have now been installed at several Judiciary facilities across Hawaii, including Ali`iolani Hale (Supreme Court Building) in Honolulu, Hoapili Hale in Wailuku, Lahaina District Courthouse on Maui, Keahuolū Courthouse in Kona, Hale Kaulike in Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island, and Puʻuhonua Kaulike in Līhuʻe on Kauaʻi.