Hawaii Employment Laws

Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex (including gender identity or expression), sexual orientation, age, religion, color, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, reproductive health decision, and domestic or sexual violence victim status. Applies to all employers regardless of size.

Hawaii's minimum wage is $16.00 per hour as of January 1, 2026, rising to $18.00 per hour on January 1, 2028. Overtime is required at 1.5x the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek.

Hawaii requires all covered employers to provide Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) for non-work-related injuries and illnesses, including pregnancy. Benefits are 58% of average weekly wages up to a maximum of $871/week (2026), payable from the 8th day of disability for up to 26 weeks.

Since July 2015, Hawaii prohibits noncompete and nonsolicitation clauses in employment contracts for employees of technology businesses (companies deriving the majority of gross income from software development or IT). For non-technology businesses, noncompetes must be ancillary to a legitimate purpose and reasonable in scope.

Employers cannot discharge, threaten, or discriminate against an employee because the employee reported or is about to report a violation of law, rule, or regulation to a public body.

Employers with 100 or more employees must provide up to 4 weeks of unpaid family leave per calendar year for the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for a family member with a serious health condition.