It was founded based on community and expert input at the organization's first meeting in September 2007 after a civil unions bill was attempted in February 2007.

The first general membership meeting was held in partnership with UNITE HERE Local 5 and featured Cleve Jones.

In 2010, the board elected to change its name to Equality Hawaii to reflect its scope expanding beyond just same-sex marriage.

While its 501(c)(3) application was being approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the organization was fiscally sponsored by the Equality Federation Institute.

It was formed in response to Governor of Hawaii Linda Lingle vetoing a 2010 civil unions bill; opponents of legal recognition of same-sex relationships had made public pledges to remove from office any legislators who supported civil unions; and Gubernatorial candidates Mufi Hannemann and Duke Aiona were promising to not only veto any future civil unions legislation, but put the issue on the ballot.