Hawaii labor laws for hourly staff: minimum wage, breaks and minors
The US Department of Labor (updated November 5, 2026) lists Hawaii's basic minimum rate as: $16.00. Other rates or conditions in the DOL entry are quoted below. The DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) does not list a meal-period requirement for Hawaii, and its rest-period table does not list a paid rest-period requirement (the DOL notes: states not listed do not require paid rest periods).
Hawaii labor rules at a glance
| Topic | What the US DOL table says for Hawaii | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $16.00 | November 5, 2026 |
| Overtime / premium pay | Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40 An employee earning a guaranteed monthly compensation of $4,000 or more is exempt from the State minimum wage and overtime law. Domestic service workers are subject to Hawaii's minimum wage and overtime requirements. Act 248, Regular Session 2013. | November 5, 2026 |
| Meal break (adults) | Not listed | January 1, 2023 |
| Paid rest break (adults) | Not listed; DOL: states not listed do not require paid rest periods | January 1, 2023 |
| Minors under 16: max hours | 8-40-6 non-school day/week 3-18-6 school day/week | July 15, 2025 |
| Minors 16–17: max hours | Blank on the DOL table | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, under 16 | 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (9 p.m. to 6 a.m. during authorized school breaks). | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, 16–17 | Blank on the DOL table | July 15, 2025 |
Minimum wage in Hawaii
Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $16.00
Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40
An employee earning a guaranteed monthly compensation of $4,000 or more is exempt from the State minimum wage and overtime law.
Domestic service workers are subject to Hawaii's minimum wage and overtime requirements. Act 248, Regular Session 2013.
The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act unless the State wage rate is higher than the federal rate.
DOL footnote 1: The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
The DOL notes that some local governments set minimum wages higher than the state rate, and that subminimum or training rates are not shown in its table.
Meal breaks in Hawaii
Hawaii is not listed in the DOL table of state meal-period requirements for adult private-sector employees (revised January 1, 2023). The US DOL states: "Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks. However, when employers do offer short breaks (usually lasting about 5 to 20 minutes), federal law considers the breaks as compensable work hours that would be included in the sum of hours worked during the workweek and considered in determining if overtime was worked."
The DOL lists Hawaii among the jurisdictions with separate meal-period provisions for minors.
Rest breaks in Hawaii
Hawaii is not listed in the DOL table of paid rest-period requirements (revised January 1, 2023). The DOL table states: "States not listed do not require paid rest periods."
Scheduling minors in Hawaii
Hours notation is the DOL's: daily-weekly-days per week (for example 8-40-6). Where state law is less restrictive than federal law, federal law applies; where it is more restrictive, state law applies (29 U.S.C. 218(a), as quoted by the DOL).
| Age | Maximum hours | Night work prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 8-40-6 non-school day/week 3-18-6 school day/week | 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (9 p.m. to 6 a.m. during authorized school breaks). |
| 16 and 17 | Blank on the DOL table | Blank on the DOL table |
DOL table footnotes: (a) State hours limitations on a school day and in a school week usually apply only to those enrolled in school. (b) Students of 14 and 15 enrolled in approved Work Experience and Career Exploration programs may work during school hours up to 3 hours on a school day and 23 hours in a school week. (c) Combined hours of work and school.
A blank cell is blank on the DOL table. The federal (FLSA) row of the same DOL table, for minors under 16: 3 hours on a school day and 18 in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day and 40 in a non-school week, and no work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
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This is general information, not legal advice. Check your state labor department for current rules.
Questions
What is the minimum wage in Hawaii?
The US DOL (updated November 5, 2026) lists: $16.00 See the full DOL entry on this page for conditions.
Does Hawaii require meal breaks for adults?
Hawaii is not listed in the DOL table of state meal-period requirements (revised January 1, 2023), and federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks (US DOL).
Does Hawaii require paid rest breaks?
No. Hawaii is not in the DOL paid rest-period table, which states that states not listed do not require paid rest periods.
Sources
- US DOL, Overtime Pay (checked 2026-11-12)
- State Minimum Wage Laws (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector 1 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Selected State Child Labor Standards Affecting Minors Under 18 in Non-farm Employment as of July 15, 2025 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- US DOL, Breaks and Meal Periods (checked 2026-11-12)