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HRS §707-782

Helping or profiting from forced labor

This law makes it a crime to knowingly help someone who is committing first-degree labor trafficking, or to profit from such help. It is a serious felony, and if kidnapping, sexual assault, or death is involved, it is even more serious. A business license used in the crime must be taken away, but an innocent owner can ask the court to get it back.

businessescourts

The statute, as written — Labor trafficking in the second degree

(1) A person commits the offense of labor trafficking in the second degree if the person knowingly: (a) Acts as an individual or uses a licensed business or business enterprise to aid another in a venture knowing that the other person in that venture is committing the offense of labor trafficking in the first degree; or (b) Benefits, financially or by receiving something of value, from participation in a venture knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that another person has engaged in any act described in paragraph (a) in the course of that venture or that another person in that venture is committing the offense of labor trafficking in the first degree. (2) Labor trafficking in the second degree is a class B felony; provided that if a violation of subsection (1) involves kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, sexual assault in the first, second, or third degree, or the attempt to commit sexual assault in the first, second, or third degree, or an attempt to cause the death of a person, or if a death results, the offense shall be a class A felony. (3) Upon conviction of a defendant for an offense under subsection (1), the court shall also order that any and all business licenses issued by the State be revoked for the business or enterprise that the defendant used to aid in the offense of labor trafficking in the second degree; provided that the court, in its discretion, may reinstate a business license upon petition to the court by any remaining owner or partner of the business or enterprise who was not convicted of an offense under this section or section 707-781.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.