As part of our ongoing coverage of human trafficking in Hawaii, we started a topic page on the subject. The page is designed to provide background to help members understand the issue. It will be expanded as we deepen our reporting.

The page begins:

Hawaii has had a federally-funded human trafficking task force since 2005. Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for forced labor or sexual exploitation. Law enforcement and social service groups acknowledge that both types of trafficking exist in Hawaii. Labor trafficking in part stems from Hawaii’s long history of importing foreign agricultural workers. The trafficking of sex workers is a problem in part because the state is a tourism destination and military center.

To learn more about human trafficking in Hawaii and share your thoughts about the issue, go the our human trafficking discussion.