Last verified October 25, 2026 · How we verify
Hawaii break laws
Hawaii sets no break rules of its own. What federal law still requires, how overtime and teen work hours are limited in Hawaii, and where to complain.
Hawaii sets no break rules of its own. What federal law still requires, how overtime and teen work hours are limited in Hawaii, and where to complain.
Hawaii has no state law requiring meal or rest breaks for adult workers, so breaks are up to your employer. Federal pay rules still apply to any break you do get. Overtime is due after 40 hours in a workweek; there is no daily overtime.
Hawaii has no state law requiring meal or rest breaks for adult private-sector employees. It is not listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's tables of state meal-period and rest-period laws, which list every state that has one.
“States not listed do not require paid rest periods.”
So only the federal rules apply. Federal law does not require meal or rest breaks. Short breaks (about 5 to 20 minutes) that an employer gives count as paid work time; meal periods of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid if the employee is completely relieved of duty.
“Rest periods of short duration, running from 5 minutes to about 20 minutes, are common in industry”— 29 CFR 785.18-785.19 (rest and meal periods)
Verified October 26, 2026 · Sources (DOL tables last revised January 1, 2023): U.S. DOL, Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector; U.S. DOL, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector
Hawaii requires overtime at 1.5 times your regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. There is no daily overtime. Employees guaranteed $4,000 or more a month are exempt from the state wage and overtime law.
“Premium Pay After Designated Hours: Weekly - 40”
Verified October 26, 2026 · Source: US DOL, State Minimum Wage Laws
Nursing employees also have a federal right to reasonable unpaid break time and a private place, not a bathroom, to pump breast milk for one year after the birth. What the federal pump-break rule covers.
Rules for adult, non-exempt private-sector workers. Industry orders, union contracts, local laws and exemptions can change the answer. General reference, not legal advice.
Teen workers in Hawaii have limits on how long and how late they can work. Where the Hawaii and federal limits differ, the stricter one applies. Hawaii is also one of 33 states with a separate meal-break rule for minors; when a teen is covered by both the adult and the minor rule, the employer must follow the higher standard (U.S. DOL). Ask the Hawaii labor department for its details.
| Age | Hour limits | Can't work between |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 (Hawaii) | Non-school days and weeks: up to 8 hours a day and 40 a week, 6 days a week School days and weeks: up to 3 hours a day and 18 a week, 6 days a week | 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (9 p.m. to 6 a.m. during authorized school breaks). |
| 16 and 17 (Hawaii) | No state limit listed | No state limit listed |
| Under 16 (federal) | Non-school days and weeks: up to 8 hours a day and 40 a week School days and weeks: up to 3 hours a day and 18 a week | 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. |
| 16 and 17 (federal) | No hour limits | No night limits |
Verified October 26, 2026 · Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Selected State Child Labor Standards Affecting Minors Under 18 in Non-farm Employment, as of July 15, 2025. School-day limits usually apply only to students.
Because Hawaii has no break law, there is no state claim for a missed break itself. But if your employer deducts short breaks (5 to 20 minutes) from your pay, or you work through an unpaid lunch, that is unpaid work time under federal law. File a written, signed complaint with the Hawaii Wage Standards Division by phone, mail or in person; no appointment is needed. Time limits apply, so contact the division promptly at (808) 586-8777. Official page ↗ Verified October 25, 2026
You can also call the federal Wage and Hour Division free at 1-866-487-9243. Firing or punishing you for a wage complaint is illegal.
Every payday you must get a record showing your gross pay, the amount and purpose of each deduction, your net pay, the payment date and the pay period. Electronic statements need your written permission. Source ↗ Verified October 26, 2026
Paid break time counts as hours worked, at no less than Hawaii's minimum wage of $16.00 an hour, rising to $18.00 on January 1, 2028. Hawaii minimum wage details ↗ Keep your own record to compare: the time card calculator totals your week with Hawaii's rules and saves a PDF.
| State | Meal break | Rest breaks | Overtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | None required | None required | Weekly, 40 h |
| California | A 30-minute unpaid meal break for shifts over 5 hours, and a second one over 10 hours | A paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours | Daily + weekly |
| Oregon | A 30-minute unpaid meal break for 6 or more hours | A paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours | Weekly, 40 h |
| Washington | A 30-minute meal break, with no more than 5 hours of work without one | A paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours | Weekly, 40 h |
See all 50 states and DC.
Every rule on this page was checked against the official source below; the quotes are verbatim and were found in the source on the date shown next to each rule. This page was last verified on October 25, 2026, the oldest of those dates. How we verify.