Accessibility

Accessibility Statement

At To Be Hawai‘i, we’re committed to sharing the aloha spirit through an accessible and inclusive online experience. We believe everyone should be able to enjoy our website and explore our handcrafted creations with ease, comfort, and confidence.

Our website accessibility is managed by Accessible, a screen reader and accessibility application that performs monthly audits and continuous monitoring to ensure compliance and the best possible user experience.


Compliance Status

We aim to adhere as closely as possible to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines help ensure that digital content is accessible to individuals with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive challenges.

Our site uses accessibility technology to maintain inclusive functionality. The Accessible interface allows visitors to personalize the website’s design and user experience to fit their unique needs.

In addition, an AI-based process runs continuously in the background to enhance accessibility — adapting HTML, improving compatibility for screen readers, and optimizing keyboard navigation for users with motor impairments.

For questions or assistance, please contact us at aloha@tobehawaii.com.


Screen Reader and Keyboard Navigation

Our website integrates ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes and behavioral adjustments to support screen readers and keyboard navigation. When a screen reader user visits our site, they are prompted to activate the Screen Reader Profile for an optimized browsing experience.

Screen Reader Optimization

  • The system continuously scans the site to ensure compliance and accessibility for all updates.

  • Screen readers receive accurate ARIA data, including form labels, icon descriptions, and button roles.

  • All images are automatically described using AI-generated ALT text, and any embedded text is extracted using OCR (optical character recognition) technology.

  • Users can activate screen reader adjustments anytime by pressing Alt + 1.

  • Compatible with major screen readers including JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack.

Keyboard Navigation Optimization

  • Navigate using Tab and Shift + Tab keys.

  • Operate dropdowns with arrow keys, close them with Esc, and activate links or buttons with Enter.

  • Access a content-skip menu with Alt + 2.

  • Use shortcuts such as M (menus), H (headings), F (forms), B (buttons), and G (graphics) for quick navigation.

  • Keyboard focus automatically shifts to active pop-ups, preventing focus drift.

Disability Profiles Supported

Our website offers several built-in accessibility profiles to tailor the experience for each visitor:

  • Epilepsy Safe Profile – Eliminates flashing and blinking animations.

  • Vision Impaired Profile – Adjusts visuals for users with reduced vision or light sensitivity.

  • Cognitive Disability Profile – Simplifies layouts and enhances focus for users with conditions such as autism or dyslexia.

  • ADHD Friendly Profile – Reduces distractions to improve focus and readability.

  • Blind Users Profile – Fully compatible with screen readers.

  • Keyboard Navigation Profile – Enables complete site navigation using keyboard controls.


Design and Readability Adjustments

Users can adjust the website’s appearance and behavior, including:

  • Font Adjustments: Modify size, spacing, alignment, or type.

  • Color Options: Choose light, dark, inverted, or monochrome themes.

  • Animation Controls: Pause or disable all animated content.

  • Content Highlighting: Emphasize links, titles, and active elements.

  • Audio Muting: Instantly mute all sounds.

  • Cognitive Assistance: Built-in tools link to Wikipedia and Wiktionary for definitions and clarity.

  • Additional Tools: Change cursor color or size, enable a virtual keyboard, or switch to print-friendly mode.


Assistive Technology and Browser Compatibility

Our goal is to support as many browsers and assistive technologies as possible so users can select what works best for them.
We currently support Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera, and Microsoft Edge, along with JAWSand NVDA screen readers for both Windows and Mac users.


Ongoing Improvement

We continuously work to improve accessibility across our site. While some pages or components may not yet be fully optimized, we are dedicated to enhancing accessibility, updating features, and adopting new technology as it becomes available.

Your feedback helps us improve. If you experience any accessibility barriers or have suggestions, please contact us at aloha@tobehawaii.com.

 

Last updated: November 2025. To Be Hawai‘i is continuously committed to digital accessibility and inclusion.