Posted at 11:45 a.m., Wednesday, June 13, 2001

Hawai'i law gets tough on hate crime

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Hawai'i today imposed tougher sentences for crimes based on hatred toward a race, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin or sexual orientation.

The legislation, signed into law today by Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, also calls for a reporting mechanism to compile, track and analyze data on crime in Hawai'i.

"What it means is that now hate will be elevated to a new degree of punishment in crime," said Ken Miller, co-chairman of the Gay & Lesbian Community Center.

"If someone was to commit a crime because they don't like a person because they're black, white, gay, lesbian or whatever, we will be protected."

Sen. Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo), one of three senators who voted against the bill, called it "political correctness at its worst."

"All crime against any person is hateful," Hemmings said, "and we should all be protected equally. To single out particular groups because of race, creed or other considerations such as lifestyles is not justice.... To say one particular group's interest or life is worth more than others based on ethnic, religious or other types of lifestyle situations is crazy."

Hawai'i was among a minority of states without laws addressing hate-motivated crimes.