Pornography and community standards in Hawaii: comparisons with other states

Abstract

This first statewide study, using random phone interviews, found a community standard for the acceptance of sexually explicit material. Research shows respondents are conservative in voting for the death penalty and against the legalization of those drugs presently illegal, even marijuana. In other regards, Hawaiians think abortion should be only for the women to decide and that adults should not be denied access to explicit material that shows other adults in consensual sexual acts. The majority of those interviewed had themselves seen erotically explicit materials, often obtaining it themselves. Only a minority found the material offensive. A review of studies on sexually explicit material elsewhere in the country shows these findings to be consistent with all other communities investigated; none would restrict adults from access to sexually explicit material.