A new state law that went into effect Monday creates civil liabilities for being an extreme “Karen” in Hawaii.

The new law allows for penalties of no less than $1,000 plus legal fees against someone who is deemed through civil litigation to have called law enforcement on a person based on that person’s actual or perceived race, color, birthplace, age, religion, sex, gender expression or other protected class.

Act 259 stems from a bill that was introduced in January and didn’t attract much public testimony until a final hearing in March, when a surge took place that was bigger for opponents.

The Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission and the state Department of Law Enforcement are required under the new law to advise the public about it.

Marcus Kawatachi, executive director of the commission,

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