About the Sex Abuse Treatment Center (SATC)
Comprehensive Sexual Assault Care, Counseling, and Prevention Services Across Hawaiʻi
The Sex Abuse Treatment Center (SATC), a program of Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children provides comprehensive services for survivors of sexual assault. In partnership with organizations across Hawaiʻi, SATC helps meet statewide needs, including support for individuals on the neighbor islands. Services include:
Medical care
Crisis counseling
Ongoing therapy
SATC also works to prevent sexual violence and support long-term community well-being through public policy efforts, education and awareness initiatives.
Our Mission
Our mission is to support the emotional healing of those who experience sexual assault in Hawaiʻi, increase community awareness of their needs, and reduce the incidence of all forms of sexual violence.
SATC’s leadership ensures the integrity of sexual assault treatment and prevention services statewide. Through research and education, we work to reduce sexual violence and strengthen clinical practices. We also collaborate with community organizations and agencies to improve responses to sexual violence. By promoting and engaging in public policy, we aim to shift public perceptions of sexual violence, remove barriers to treatment and prevention, and ensure that the criminal justice system is responsive to the needs of survivors.
Our History
The Sex Abuse Treatment Center (SATC) was established in 1976 in response to the community’s concern over the lack of medical, psychological, and legal support services for victims of sexual assault. At that time, no facility in Hawaiʻi provided comprehensive and confidential care for sexual assault survivors.
With State government funding, SATC implemented 24‑hour crisis support through its 24-hour hotline and developed the protocol for medical examinations and legal evidence collection in sexual assault cases. Counseling services were also provided to victims and their families following the initial crisis. Recognizing for many survivors, engagement in the criminal justice system was a crucial part of recovery, SATC focused on training medical personnel, police, and prosecutors to increase the victim's willingness to report sexual assault to law enforcement, testify in court, and begin recovering from trauma.
In the 1980s, SATC expanded its services to include prevention education and awareness programs for children and adolescents. Training and consultation services for professionals were also enhanced. During this period, major milestones were achieved for sexual assault survivors through collaborative policy efforts with community agencies and law enforcement. Laws were enacted to protect victim counseling information, require mandatory HIV testing of sex offenders, and establish sex offender registration. Statutes and policies were strengthened to increase penalties for sex offenders.
SATC took on a statewide role in the 1990s through contract administration for statewide sexual assault services. SATC provides programmatic and fiscal oversight, as well as technical assistance and consultation, to the sexual assault centers on Kauaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island.
50 Years of Achievement
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1976
The Sex Abuse Treatment Center Established
The Sex Abuse Treatment Center (SATC) at Kapiʻolani Medical Center becomes Hawaiʻi's first sexual assault center with a 24/7 hotline, counseling and legal advocacy services.
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1984
Creating Awareness
Implements education for high school students on dating violence and promoting healthy relationships.
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1987
Legal Partnerships Begin
Kobayashi, Watanabe, Sugita, & Kawashima (87-94); Guidance today provided by Roeca Luria Hiraoka LLP (94-Present); McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP (95-Present)
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1989
Fortifying Programs
Government leadership of Dept. of Prosecuting Attorney and the Dept. of the Attorney General support funds for delivery of critical services.
Enhancing Care
SATC opens Hawaiʻi's first pediatric sex abuse medical clinic. -
1992
Protecting Rights
Victim-Counselor Privilege enacted. Continues partnerships with community and government agencies to enhance the welfare of survivors.
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1997
Statewide Leadership
Selected by the Dept. of Health (DOH) as the Master Contractor for statewide sexual assault services–Maui Cild & Family Services, Kauaʻi YWCA, and Hawaiʻi YWCA.
Surfing with a Purpose
Roy "China" Uemura creates annual Wahine Surfing Classic for community education and support for SATC. -
1998
Standardizing Forensic Services
Selected by the Dept. of the Attorney General to develop uniform standards. Prosecutors, police, scientists, medical and sexual assault personnel state-wide work together.
Friends of SATC
First annual "It's Not Your Fault" benefit luncheon. -
2000
Statewide Protocols
Sexual Assault Evidence Kit and Protocols implemented.
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2001
Supporting Children
Partners with the Children's Justice Center for on-site crisis counseling for children during forensic interview. -
2003
Capacity Building
Funded by Higgins Family Foundation to create comprehensive teacher training on sexual assault prevention curricula (K-12).
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2005
[respect]™
SATC develops and launches media campaign with DOH and The Hawaiʻi Coalition Against Sexual Assault (HCASA).
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2006
Safeguarding Services
Legislature with support of the Attorney General increases funding from $924K to $2M to sustain essential statewide services.
Impacting Teens
Launches [respect]™ is a Choice, an interactive drama for high school students, with Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY). -
2010
High Risk Victim Clinic
SATC opens clinic for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation with the Pacific Survivor Center.
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2012
Supporting Prevention
SATC receives funding support from the DOH to continue teacher training and Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY) activities.
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2013
Building Advocacy
"First Impressions"
Develops with Honolulu Police Department and HCASA training video for use by law enforcement. -
2014
[respect] Rally
Creates and stages with HTY creative workshops through art to engage youth in preventing sexual violence.
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2015
[respect] College
Toolkit and training offered to Hawaiʻi's campuses.
Engaging Youth/Young Adults
Creates prevention film "shots" with HCASA, Dept. of Public Safety Sex Offender Management Team and Judiciary's Sex Offender Probation Unit to address intersection of sexual assault and alcohol. -
2016
SAKI Initiative
Project Mālama Kākou was created following the passage of Act 207 (2016), bringing together a multidisciplinary team to address and resolve sexual assault cases in Hawaiʻi.
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2017
Addressed Backlog of Untested Kits
Hawai‘i moved towards testing previously untested sexual assault kits, completing 1,512 kits reported to law enforcement.
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2018
Establishment of HRS Chapter 844G
In collaboration with partner organizations, SATC supported the creation of HRS Chapter 844G, strengthening policies around the handling and tracking of sexual assault evidence kits.
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2020
Expansion of Teleheath Services
In response to COVID-19, SATC introduced telehealth services to better meet client needs—an option that continues to be offered today.
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2022
First Sexual Assault Awareness Month Sign-Waving Event
SATC hosted its first sign-waving event to raise community awareness and show support for survivors.
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2024
Advocacy for Extended Statute of Limitations
SATC advocated for the passage of SB2601, extending the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse from 8 to 32 years.
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2026
50th Anniversary Milestone
SATC celebrates its 50th anniversary of service for survivors in Hawaiʻi.