Hawaii employment rules for employers

Hawaii's minimum wage is $16.00 per hour. (State Minimum Wage Laws (U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division table, updated July 1, 2026))

“Hawaii Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $16.00”

“$16.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2026; and”

dol.gov · labor.hawaii.gov

Hawaii private employers must pay wages at least twice a month (semi-monthly); monthly pay is allowed only by employee election under a special procedure or by exception from the director. (State Payday Requirements (U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division table, January 1, 2023))

“5 Hawaii. Employees may choose to be paid on a monthly basis under special election procedure. Director of labor and industrial relations also may grant exceptions to the general semi-monthly payday requirement. The payday requirement applies only to private sector employment.”

“Chapter 388, HRS, Payment of Wages and Other Compensation Law, requires employers to pay the earned wages of all employees at least twice a month and within seven days after the end of each pay period.”

dol.gov · labor.hawaii.gov

No state meal break requirement for adult employees in Hawaii; the only break requirement applies to minors aged fourteen or fifteen. (Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (U.S. DOL WHD table, January 1, 2023))

“1/ The following 35 jurisdictions also have separate provisions requiring meal periods specifically for minors (when minors are covered by two provisions, employer must observe the higher standard): Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Guam, and Puerto Rico.”

“In Hawaii, the only requirement for breaks is found in the Hawaii Child Labor Law under Section 390-2(c)(3), Hawaii Revised Statutes, which requires that employers provide to minors fourteen or fifteen years of age a thirty minute rest or meal period after five consecutive hours of work. There is no law that requires rest or meal breaks for other employees.”

dol.gov · labor.hawaii.gov

No state rest break requirement for adult employees in Hawaii. (Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (U.S. DOL WHD table, January 1, 2023))

“1 States not listed do not require paid rest periods.”

“There is no law that requires rest or meal breaks for other employees.”

dol.gov · labor.hawaii.gov

A discharged employee must be paid all earned wages in full at the time of discharge, or no later than the next working day. (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 388-3(a) (as stated by the Wage Standards Division))

“Under Section 388-3(a), HRS, whenever an employer discharges an employee, the employer is required to pay all earned wages in full at the time of discharge, or not later than the next working day.”

“paid wages in full at the time of discharge or no later than the next working day;”

labor.hawaii.gov · labor.hawaii.gov

If the employee gives at least one pay period's notice of intention to quit, all wages earned must be paid at the time of quitting (the last day of employment). (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 388-3(b) (as stated by the Wage Standards Division))

“except that if the employee gives at least one pay period’s notice of intention to quit, the employer shall pay all wages earned at the time of quitting.”

“However, if you give your employer one pay period’s notice of your intention to quit, you must be paid on your last day of employment.”

labor.hawaii.gov · labor.hawaii.gov

One more case for this topic is not verified yet. Check the official source.

Hawaii law does not require paid sick leave; employers that provide sick leave must make their policy available in writing or by posted notice. (Hawaii DLIR Wage Standards Division, Vacation and Sick Leave)

“In Hawaii, paid vacation and sick leave is not required by law.”

“Vacation, sick leave and holidays are NOT required by law,”

labor.hawaii.gov · labor.hawaii.gov

Hawaii recognizes a common-law claim for at-will employees fired in violation of a clear mandate of public policy (a Parnar claim, from Parnar v. Americana Hotels). (Order, No. 1:11-cv-00326 (D. Haw.), citing Parnar v. Americana Hotels, Inc., 652 P.2d 625, 631 (Haw. 1982))

“Hawaii common law provides a cause of action for at-will employees who are wrongfully discharged in violation of a “clear mandate of public policy.””

“of termination in violation of public policy, recognized by the Hawaii Supreme Court in Parnar v. Americana Hotels, Inc., 65 Haw. 370, 652 P.2d 625 (1982).”

govinfo.gov · govinfo.gov

In Hawaii the employer's right to fire at will can be contractually modified by statements in employee policy manuals or handbooks (Kinoshita v. Canadian Pacific Airlines). (Du Preez v. Banis, No. 1:14-cv-00171-LEK (D. Haw. Sept. 30, 2015), quoting Shoppe v. Gucci Am., Inc., 94 Hawai`i 368 (2000), and Kinoshita v. Canadian Pac. Airlines, 68 Haw. 594, 601 (1986))

“that “the previously unfettered right of employers to discharge employees ‘can be contractually modified and, thus, qualified by statements contained in employee policy manuals or handbooks issued by employers to their employees.’””

“the Hawai`i Supreme Court also recognized that “the previously unfettered right of employers to discharge employees ‘can be contractually modified”

govinfo.gov · govinfo.gov