Employment & Worker Protection · Hawaii
Hawaii Minimum Wage Law
HRS 387-2 - enacted in Hawaii.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2022
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 34/100
- Hawaii strictness
The bottom line
Hawaii Minimum Wage Law is an enacted law in Hawaii, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2026-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 34/100
- Hawaii strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Hawaii legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Hawaii Minimum Wage Law
Hawaii Minimum Wage Law (HRS 387-2) is an enacted law in Hawaii under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2022-07-05 and becomes effective on 2026-01-01. Hawaii currently reports 3 tracked regulations with 3 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 34/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Hawaii within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in HRS 387-2 itself.
Applicability under Hawaii Minimum Wage Law: All Hawaii employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: DLIR enforcement. Back wages + penalties. Notable exemptions: Disabled workers (special certificates), small farms under 20 employees..
Summary
Hawaii minimum wage $16.00/hr (2024), $18.00/hr from Jan 2026. Schedule to $18/hr passed 2022.
Key Requirements
$16.00/hr through 2025. $18.00/hr from Jan 2026. Tipped workers: tip credit up to $0.75/hr below minimum.
Penalties
DLIR enforcement. Back wages + penalties.
Applicability
All Hawaii employers.
Exemptions
Disabled workers (special certificates), small farms under 20 employees.
Official Source
https://labor.hawaii.gov/wsd/minimum-wage/How Hawaii compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Hawaii ranks #21 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Hawaii is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Hawaii Minimum Wage Law enacted?
Hawaii Minimum Wage Law was enacted on 2022-07-05 and became effective on 2026-01-01. It was introduced as HRS 387-2.
What are the penalties for violating Hawaii Minimum Wage Law?
DLIR enforcement. Back wages + penalties. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Hawaii Minimum Wage Law apply to small businesses?
All Hawaii employers. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Hawaii compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Hawaii has a regulatory strictness score of 34/100, based on 3 enacted regulations out of 3 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Hawaii Minimum Wage Law?
The official text of Hawaii Minimum Wage Law (HRS 387-2) is available from the Hawaii legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Hawaii Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Hawaii Minimum Wage Law is enacted in Hawaii, effective 2026-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Hawaii ranks #21 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Hawaii tracks across all five policy areas. Hawaii profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Hawaii source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.