When it comes to religious clothing and jewelry, individuals in Hawaii have certain rights that must be respected. Modesty is a key factor in many religious groups, and the criteria of acceptable modesty and decency have been continuously relaxed in much of the world since the 19th century. People wear clothes that they don't consider unacceptably immodest for their religion, culture, generation, occasion, and for the people present. Some people wear clothes that they consider immodest, out of exhibitionism, out of a desire to create an erotic impact, or for publicity reasons.
Gender issues are paramount in the dress codes of conservative religious groups, since the control of female sexuality is often of great importance in patriarchal religious groups. Members of religious groups actively build their own lives and use clothing symbolically to express their religious beliefs, adaptation to social change, and compliance with social norms and religious authority. As religious groups face social change, clothing often takes on symbolic importance, since certain garments of a religious group can be classified as sacred. Although secular clothing is not exclusively associated with religious activities, it is worn in rituals or worn by certain religious practitioners, such as the clergy. Understanding how clothing works in religious groups draws attention to the complexity of the meanings surrounding visible symbols, such as dress, and sheds light on the ways in which bodies can communicate social and religious values.
By conforming to a strict system of religious values, the most conservative religious social bodies exercise control over the physical body of their members. In terms of legal rights, Title IX exempts from coverage any educational operation of an entity controlled by a religious organization only to the extent that Title IX is inconsistent with the organization's religious principles. This means that individuals have a private right of action and individual help through agency action when it comes to wearing religious clothing and jewelry in public places in Hawaii.
