The Sex Abuse Treatment Center was established in 1976 in response to the community's concern over the absence of medical, psychological, and legal support services for victims. At the time there was no facility in Hawai'i for victims of sexual assault to receive comprehensive and confidential care.

With State government funds SATC implemented 24-hour crisis and legal support services for victims and their families and developed the protocol for the medical examination and legal evidence collection for sexual assault crimes. In addition, counseling services were provided to victims and their families following the initial crisis. Medical personnel, police, and prosecutors were also trained on victim sensitivity. With this support, victims became increasingly willing to report sexual assault to the police, testify in court, and were better able to recover from trauma.

In the 1980's SATC implemented prevention education and awareness programs for children and adolescents. Training and consultation services for professionals were also enhanced. During this time major milestones were accomplished for sexual assault survivors through collaborative policy efforts with community agencies and law enforcement. Laws were enacted to protect victim counseling information; to provide mandatory HIV testing of sex offenders, and to establish sex offender registration. Statutes and policies were also strengthened to enhance penalties for sex offenders.

SATC took on a statewide profile in the 1990's through contract administration for statewide sexual assault services. SATC provides the programmatic and fiscal oversight of sexual assault services, as well as technical assistance and consultation, to the sexual assault centers on Kaua'i, Maui and the island of Hawai'i.

Our mission is to support the emotional healing process of those who experience sexual assault in Hawaiʻi, increase community awareness about their needs, and reduce the incidence of all forms of sexual violence.

SATC’s leadership ensures the integrity of sexual assault treatment and prevention services statewide. Through research and education, we aim to reduce sexual violence and improve clinical practices. We also collaborate with community organizations and agencies to improve responses to sexual violence. By promoting and engaging in public policy we seek to change the public's perceptions of sexual violence, overcome barriers to treatment and prevention, and ensure that the criminal justice system is responsive to the needs of survivors.