Opinion ID: 2509105
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Weight of federal precedent

Text: In interpreting HRS § 378-2, we have held that federal courts' interpretations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e-2000e-17 (2004), are persuasive, but not controlling. See Shoppe v. Gucci America, Inc., 94 Hawai'i 368, 377, 14 P.3d 1049, 1058 (2000) (In interpreting HRS § 378-2 in the context of race and gender discrimination, we have previously looked to the interpretations of analogous federal laws by the federal courts for guidance.); Furukawa v. Honolulu Zoological Soc., 85 Hawai'i 7, 13, 936 P.2d 643, 649 (1997) (Of course, a federal court's interpretation of Title VII is not binding on this court's interpretation of civil rights laws adopted by the Hawai'i legislature.).