Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
Office of Administrative Hearings

DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR

CATHERINE P. AWAKUNI COLÓN
DIRECTOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2018

State to Host Consumer Education Fair

Annual Event Brings Together Dozens of Organizations for National Consumer Protection Week

HONOLULU – The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) will commemorate National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) March 4 – 10 by hosting a free Consumer Education Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 7 in the courtyard of the King Kalakaua Building at 335 Merchant St. The building is the location of the downtown Honolulu Post Office and metered parking is available for the public.

“The purpose of NCPW is to promote consumer education by providing free information that will help protect people’s privacy, manage their money and debt, and avoid identity theft, frauds and scams,” said DCCA Director Catherine Awakuni Colón.  “We encourage residents to attend the free fair as a one-stop-shop for consumer resources.  We will have representatives from over two dozen government and nonprofit agencies available to answer questions.”

Consumers can pick up their free copy of the Consumer Guide to Healthcare Providers and Military Consumer Fraud Guide.  These booklets focus on issues relating to consumer rights regarding healthcare issues, basic consumer issues, and what to do if consumers need to file complaints.

Agencies participating in the March 7, Consumer Education Fair include:

• AARP
• Alzheimer’s Association, Aloha Chapter
• Better Business Bureau of Hawaii
• Department of the Attorney General, Crime Prevention & Justice Assistance Division
• Hawaii Credit Union League
• Hawaii Fire Department
• Hawaii Homeownership Center
• Hawaii SHIP
• Hawaii State Public Library System
• Hawaii State Tax Department – Taxpayer Advocate
• Hawaiian Community Assets
• Hawaiian Electric Company
• Honolulu Fire Department
• Internal Revenue Service
• IRS – Taxpayer Advocate Service
• Legal Aid Society of Hawaii
• SMP Hawaii
• Social Security Administration
• S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• S. Postal Inspection Service
• S. Postal Service
• The State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA)

• Business Action Center
• Cable Television
• Consumer Education Program
• Division of Consumer Advocacy
• Hawaii Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program
• Insurance Division
• Office of Consumer Protection
• Office of the Securities Commissioner
• Public Utilities Commission
• Regulated Industries Complaints Office – Consumer Resource Center
• State Certified Arbitration Program

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