Sexual harassment is unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is considered severe or pervasive and either affects working conditions or creates a hostile work environment. The conduct is not considered sexual harassment if it is welcomed, so it is important for individuals who are being sexually harassed to communicate either verbally, visually, or through actions that the conduct makes them uncomfortable, and they want it to stop. Consensual dating, joking, and touching are not sexual harassment if the conduct is welcomed by the persons involved.

If a person is fired, denied a promotion, demoted, given a poor performance evaluation, or reassigned to a less desirable position because he or she rejected sexual advances, this conduct may constitute sexual harassment under both federal law and Hawaii state law. Even if the conduct does not result in economic damages or a decrease in job status, it may still be considered sexual harassment if it interferes with work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.

In Hawaii, if a student or employee is subjected to unwelcome sexual advances, with giving being the potential basis for grading, firing, hiring, or advancement, then this is constituted as sexual harassment, as is any type of unwelcome sexual behavior (physical, verbal, or non-verbal) that creates a hostile classroom, college, or work environment. Hawaiian state law covers any government (except for the federal government) or private employer with one or more employees.

According to the United States Supreme Court, there are two types of sexual harassment: quid pro quo and hostile environment. Quid pro quo, meaning "this for that," can be committed only by someone who is in a position to either make or effectively influence employment decisions, such as firing, demotion, and denial of promotion of an employee based on the rejection of sexual advances or favors. 

A hostile work environment is one in which the person being harassed is so uncomfortable at work that either his or her performance suffers or he or she declines professional opportunities because they would make it impossible to avoid the harasser. One isolated instance may not constitute sexual harassment unless it is of a severe nature, such as rape or attempted rape, but a number of relatively minor, separate incidents may add up to sexual harassment if the conduct creates a hostile work environment.

Conduct of a sexual nature may include verbal comments about a person's clothing, body, or behavior, jokes of a sexual nature, requesting sexual favors, repeatedly asking a person out on a date, sexual innuendo, and creating rumors about a person's sex life. Physical conduct that may constitute sexual harassment includes assault, impeding or blocking a person's path or movement, and inappropriate touching of a person or his or her clothing; this includes kissing, hugging, patting, and stroking. Nonverbal sexual harassment may be looking a person up and down, gestures or facial expressions of a sexual nature, and stalking or following someone. Visual forms of sexual harassment include posters, drawings, pictures, screensavers, and emails of a sexual nature.

Hawaiians who believe they have been the victims of sexual harassment may file a complaint at no cost with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (HCRC). The claim must be filed within 180 days after the harassment has occurred. During the HCRC investigation, a complainant should be prepared to do the following:

• Present specific dates and facts about the alleged harassment
• Identify documents and witnesses, if any, that substantiate charges in the complaint
• Keep the HCRC updated as to their whereabouts and any phone number or address change

Retaliation against any employee for either reporting sexual harassment or cooperating when an employer investigates a claim of sexual harassment is prohibited by federal law. Employers are responsible for conducting prompt and thorough investigations of all complaints, and matters should be kept as confidential as possible. Any persons accused of sexual harassment also has a duty to cooperate in the investigation and answer questions completely and honestly, regardless of whether the allegations are true or false.