KAILUA-KONA — Human trafficking is a problem that persists in every corner of the world, even in a place described as paradise.
The Hawaii Island Coalition Against Human Trafficking wants to bring this issue to light for residents of the island, and they’re getting some help from trafficking abolitionist Benjamin Nolot.
Nolot will be the keynote speaker for a Hawaii for Abolition event at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Calvary Community Church on Leilani Street in Kailua-Kona. The free presentation by the Hawaii Island Coalition Against Human Trafficking is to raise awareness about human trafficking in the Hawaiian Islands.
“We have a serious issue here, but it’s hidden in plain sight,” said Melody Stone, founder of the Hawaii Island Coalition Against Human Trafficking. “A person might come to our island and think there’s no human trafficking going on here, but it is going on.”
Nolot is the founder of Exodus Cry, an anti-human trafficking organization. Nolot has spoken at the United Nations and the 2018 Shared Hope International Conference on ways to combat the international issue of human trafficking. He was also the writer and director behind the 2011 documentary on human trafficking “Nefarious: Merchant of Souls.”
“He’s a highly sought-after speaker and we’re very fortunate to have him on our island,” Stone said. “This is an awesome opportunity for our island to learn more about this issue and the ways we can effectively intervene.”
Stone cited a study done by researchers from the Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research (STIR) at Arizona State University about human trafficking in Hawaii as one source for how big the problem has become in the state.
Part one and two of the study, titled “Sex Trafficking in Hawaii,” were published in 2018, with part three to be published in early 2020.
Part one of the study explored online sex buyers and the response to sex buying demand in Hawaii.
The study showed one in 11 men in Hawaii searched online to pay for sex, and the majority were local buyers.
Part two of the study explored the experiences of 22 girls and women sex trafficked in Hawaii and focused on learning from the victims how their sex trafficking happens, who bought sex from them, who sold them, where and how they were sold, and what familial and societal factors preceded their victimization.
The 22 participants were all sex trafficked by a sex trafficker in Hawaii. Of the participants, 77.3% were Native Hawaiian; 59.1% reported childhood physical abuse; and 50% reported childhood emotional abuse. Out of the 22 participants, 72.7% reported childhood sexual molestation and 59.1% reported childhood rape.
According to the studies, various circumstances in Hawaii have created an environment where sex trafficking exists. These include: “scant attention from law enforcement about sex trafficking, including not having any specialized human trafficking units in Hawaii; geographic isolation from national sex trafficking service resources and tools; and a lack of confidentiality, especially on neighbor islands and in rural settings where ‘everyone knows everyone here’ when in programs serving persons who experience addiction or violence.”
Stone said the meeting Saturday with Nolot is one step in stopping the problem from spreading further in Hawaii.
The Hawaii Island Coalition Against Human Trafficking also holds islandwide town hall meetings to focus on how to prevent human trafficking on the island. Stone said the date and locations of 2020 town hall meetings have not been set yet, but those interested in hosting a meeting can contact Stone at prairiemelody@gmail.com.
“If we know what to watch out for and we know the signs, we can certainly intervene and be proactive in prevention efforts, and educating our youths, families, and communities on our island,” Stone said.
The meeting with Nolot on Saturday is free to the public.