Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 29, 2026

The Mediation Centers of Hawai`i ("MCH," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

When you use our mediation request forms or contact us, we may collect:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address
• Dispute Information: Details about the rental property, nature of the dispute, and parties involved
• Demographic Information: Information collected for statistical and reporting purposes as required by the program
• Documentation: Eviction notices and other documents you choose to upload

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and approximate location
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Referring website or source

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process and route mediation requests to the appropriate center
• Communicate with you about your mediation request and schedule sessions
• Send confirmation emails and important updates about your case
• Generate reports required by the State of Hawai`i to evaluate the ACT 278 program
• Improve our website and services
• Comply with legal obligations

Information Sharing

We may share your information with:

Partner Mediation Centers

Your information will be shared with the appropriate mediation center based on the tenant's location. These centers are independent non-profit organizations that operate under their own privacy policies.

Other Parties to the Mediation

Relevant information will be shared with the other party (landlord or tenant) as necessary to facilitate the mediation process. Both parties must agree to maintain confidentiality of mediation proceedings.

Government Entities

Anonymized and aggregated data may be shared with the Hawai`i State Judiciary and Legislature for program evaluation and reporting purposes, as required by ACT 278.

Service Providers

We may share information with third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website, processing data, or providing services to you. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law, subpoena, court order, or other legal process, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Secure (HTTPS) data transmission
• Encrypted storage for sensitive documents
• Access controls limiting who can view your information
• Regular security assessments

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Mediation records may be retained for the duration of the ACT 278 pilot program and any subsequent reporting periods.

Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your information, subject to legal retention requirements
• Opt-Out: Opt out of non-essential communications

To exercise these rights, please contact us. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

Cookies and Tracking

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us:

• Remember your preferences
• Understand how you use our website
• Improve our services

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some functionality of our website.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to other websites, including individual mediation center websites. This Privacy Policy applies only to MCH services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

• Phone: Contact your local mediation center

Consent

By using our website and services, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.