Workplace Fairness

For more information about filing a discrimination or harassment claim in Hawaii, see our page on filing a discrimination complaint: Hawaii

Discrimination/Harassment - State Agency

Hawaii Civil Rights Commission
830 Punchbowl Street, Room 411
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-8636
Fax: (808) 586-8655
E-Mail: info@hicrc.org
Web Address: http://hawaii.gov/labor/hcrc

Agency Description/Mission: HRCR's mission is to eliminate discrimination by protecting civil rights and promoting diversity through enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and education.

For more information, see our page on filing a discrimination complaint: Hawaii

Discrimination/Harassment - Local Offices of Federal Agency (EEOC)

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Honolulu Local Office
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Room 7-127
P.O. Box 50082
Honolulu, HI 96850-0051
Phone:1-800-669-4000
TTY: 1-800-669-6820
Fax: 808-541-3390

For more information about this agency, see the EEOC section of our page on federal agencies

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Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH)
830 Punchbowl Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone (Occupational Health Complaints, Oahu): (808) 586-9090
Phone (Occupational Safety Complaints, Oahu): (808) 586-9110
Phone (Occupational Health & Safety Complaints, neighboring islands): (808) 586-9092
Fax (Oahu): (808) 586-9104
Web Address: http://hawaii.gov/labor/hiosh/index.shtml

Complaints Addressed by HIOSH

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Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Disability Compensation Division
830 Punchbowl Street, Room 209
Honolulu, HI 96813
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 3769
Honolulu, HI 96812-3769
Phone: (808) 586-9151
Web Address: http://hawaii.gov/labor/dcd

About Temporary Disability Insurance

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Hawaii Department of Labor & Industrial Relations
Unemployment Insurance Division

Web Address: http://hawaii.gov/labor/ui

Employee Frequently Asked Questions
Instructions for Using Hawaii Tele-Claim

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Does Hawaii have state overtime laws that are different from federal law?
Under Hawaii law, employers in the private sector must pay employees at a rate of one and one-half the employee's regular hourly wage for working more than forty hours in one week. Some employees are exempt from the overtime requirement. Employees earning more than $2,000 per month on a salary basis or engaged in executive, administrative, supervisory, agricultural or professional activities are exempt from the overtime requirement.

Does Hawaii have a minimum wage that is different from federal law?
The current minimum wage in Hawaii is $7.75 per hour, which is equal to the federal minimum wage. On January 1, 2016, the state minimum wage will increase to $8.50, per hour then to $9.25 per hour on January 1, 2017, and again to $10.10 per hour on January 1, 2018.

Employers cannot decrease the minimum wage by the cost to provide uniforms that are primarily for the convenience of the employer. Employers, however, can use tips and gratuities to reduce the minimum wage required to $7.25. Employers can also deduct the reasonable cost of providing board, lodging or other facilities from the minimum wage.

The following employees may be paid at a rate below the minimum wage:

• Student learners
• Student workers
• Disabled workers
• Paroled wards

Employees earning more than $2,000 per month on a salary basis or engaged in executive, administrative, supervisory or professional activities are exempt from the minimum wage requirement.

Does Hawaii have meal and rest break requirements, unlike federal law?
Hawaii does not have any meal or rest break requirements.

How do I file a wage/hour or labor standards claim in Hawaii?
You can file a wage claim with a local office of the Wage Standards Division. Information on the process is available at: the Wage Standards Division website. The filing should include as much information and documentation as possible. This process can be completed with or without an attorney.

What are my time deadlines?
If you have a wage/hour claim, do not delay in contacting the DLIR to file a claim. There are strict time limits in which wage claims must be filed. In order for the agency to act on your behalf, you must file with six years from the date that the claim arose.

As you might have other legal claims with shorter deadlines, do not wait to file your claim until your time limit is close to expiring. You may wish to consult with an attorney prior to filing your claim, if possible. Yet if you are unable to find an attorney who will assist you, it is not necessary to have an attorney to file your claim.

How can I or my attorney pursue a claim in court in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, an employee can file a private lawsuit to recover unpaid wages, civil penalties, attorney's costs and fees.

State Labor Agency
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR)

Wage Standards Division
Oahu
830 Punchbowl Street, Room 340
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone: (808) 586-8777
Fax: (808) 586-9099
Web Address: http://hawaii.gov/labor/wsd
Labor Laws in Hawaii
Contact Information

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
ESA Wage & Hour Division
Honolulu Area Office
300 Ala Moana Blvd, Room 7225
Honolulu, HI 96850
Phone: (808) 541-1361
Fax: (808) 541-2956

Wage and Hour/Labor Standards - Local Offices of Federal Agency (DOL)
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
ESA Wage & Hour Division
Honolulu Area Office
300 Ala Moana Blvd, Room 7225
Honolulu, HI 96850
Phone: (808) 541-1361
Fax: (808) 541-2956

Kauai
State Building
3060 Eiwa Street, Room 202
Lihue, Hawaii 96766
Phone: (808) 274-3351

Maui
State Building #2
2264 Aupuni Street, Room 106
Wailuku, Hawaii 96793
Phone: (808) 243-5322

Hilo
State Building
75 Aupuni Street, Room 108
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Phone: (808) 974-6464

West Hawaii
Post Office Building
81-990 Halekii Street, Room 2087
Mailing: P. O. Box 49
Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750
Phone: (808) 322-4808

This material was originally prepared by attorney Joseph Jaramillo and former law clerks Keia Cole and Adam Weiss of the law firm Goldstein, Demchak Baller Borgen and Dardarian, and was updated by Professor Douglas D. Scherer, of Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. Professor Scherer also serves as the Vice President of Workplace Fairness.

For more information about this agency, see the U.S. Department of Labor section of our page on federal agencies

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Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Disability Compensation Division
830 Punchbowl Street, Room 211
P. O. Box 3769
Honolulu, HI 96812
Phone: (808) 586-9151
Web Address: http://hawaii.gov/labor/dcd

About Workers' Compensation

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