Diversity and Non-Discrimination Policy

Among Oahu’s greatest assets is the ethnic, cultural, and social diversity of our community. The City and County of Honolulu takes great pride in this diversity, and values and respects its residents and welcomes its visitors. It is the policy of the City and County of Honolulu to provide services, programs and activities to the public without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other classification protected by state or federal law.

The Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency will comply, to a reasonable extent, with the applicable provisions of law and policies prohibiting discrimination, including but not limited to:

·         Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency).

·         Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination based on disability.

·         Age Discrimination Act of 1975, which prohibits discrimination based on age.

·         U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulation 6 C.F.R. Part 19, which prohibits discrimination based on religion in social service programs.

The Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency will not tolerate intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination against persons for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege guaranteed under law or regulations, or because the person has filed a complaint or has testified, assisted, or participated in any way in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing or has opposed any office action or decision.

The Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency will take reasonable measures to provide access to individuals with disabilities and/or those with limited ability to speak, write or understand English. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability or an interpreter for a language other than English, please call (808) 768-2277 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or send an email to resilientoahu@honolulu.gov. Translation services requested for Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency hosted events should be made at least 48-hours before the event date to provide time to arrange services.

The Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency will do its best to provide accommodations when requested. Be advised that during an active emergency or without prior notification, it may not be possible to fulfill all requests received or provide services and/or materials at events or activities hosted by the office.

Any person who believes they have been discriminated against under Title VI/related statues may file a complaint with the City and County of Honolulu or directly with the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency within 60 days of the date of the alleged discrimination, unless otherwise specified by applicable federal regulations. A downloadable complaint form is provided here in English. Individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency may request assistance, if needed, with completing the form and during the complaint process. The process to arrange this assistance is described above in the Diversity and Non-Discrimination section.

Complaints may be filed with the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency via email at resilientoahu@honolulu.gov or by phone at (808) 768-2277 Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Complaints may be mailed to the Office or the City and County of Honolulu’s Equal Opportunity Office at the following address:

1)      City and County of Honolulu

Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency

Attention: Budget & Operations Specialist

650 South King Street, 11th Floor

Honolulu, HI 96813

2)      City and County of Honolulu

Equal Opportunity Office

925 Dillingham Blvd., Suite 180

Honolulu, HI 96817

Complaints may be filed anonymously. However, a name and method of contact is required to provide updates on the complaint.

All complaints received will be reviewed by the Office’s Budget & Operations Specialist, under the supervision of the Office’s Executive Director, and the City’s Equal Opportunity Office staff.

Collectively, the City Equal Opportunity Office staff and the Budget & Operations Specialist will investigate a formal complaint within ten (10) working days of receipt. With the support of City Equal Opportunity Office staff, the Budget & Operations Specialist will diligently attempt to respond to a complaint within 60 working days of its receipt. In some cases, investigations and responses may require more time than those described here.

The Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency has prepared a Limited English Proficiency Plan. The Plan includes additional information on the Office’s efforts to provide services to persons with limited English proficiency.

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