Hawaii Break Laws (2026)
Last updated: 2026-10-07 · Checked against the statute text and state agency guidance · Minors only
| Adult meal break | Not required |
|---|---|
| Adult rest break | Not required (short breaks you give must be paid) |
| Minors | 14–15: 30 min if over 5 h; max 5 h straight · 16–17: same as adults |
| Lactation | Unpaid breaks for 1 year; posting required |
| Enforcing agency | Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), Wage Standards Division; Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (lactation) |
Hawaii break scheduler
Pick a state and enter the shift. You'll get every break the law requires, the latest time each can start, a suggested schedule, and — if you enter the breaks actually taken — a compliance check with California premium pay.
Hawaii · Adult (18+) · 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
On site 10 h · hours worked 10 h
No meal or rest break is required by Hawaii law for this shift.
Federal law still applies: breaks of about 5–20 minutes you choose to give must be paid, and an unpaid meal must be a real duty-free break (ordinarily 30+ minutes). Different rules apply to minors — switch the employee type.
Scheduling aid, not legal advice. Industry wage orders, union contracts and employer-specific exemptions can change the rules — see the Hawaii break law page for citations.
Hawaii meal break law
No state meal-period requirement for adults. Hawaii DLIR: 'In Hawaii, the only requirement for breaks is found in Chapter 390, HRS, Child Labor Law... An employer's policy would determine whether or not breaks are provided for other employees.' If an employee works through a designated break, the time must be paid as hours worked.
Source: official guidance
Hawaii rest break law
No state rest-break requirement for adult private-sector employees. Federal rule: short breaks (about 5-20 minutes), if given, must be paid (29 CFR 785.18).
Breaks for minors in Hawaii
Minors 14 and 15 may not work more than 5 consecutive hours without at least a 30-minute rest or meal period (DLIR: 'at least a thirty minute rest or meal period after five consecutive hours of work for fourteen- and fifteen-year-old minors'). No break rule for 16- and 17-year-olds.
Source: HRS ch. 390 (Child Labor Law), §390-2; HAR Title 12, ch. 25
Lactation breaks in Hawaii
Employers must provide (1) reasonable break time for an employee to express milk for the employee's nursing child for one year after the child's birth each time the employee needs to express milk, and (2) a location, other than a restroom, shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public. Covered employers must post a notice in a conspicuous place and keep employees informed of these protections. Employers with fewer than 20 employees are exempt from the break/space requirements if they show undue hardship (significant difficulty or expense relative to size, resources, nature or structure). Hawaii law also prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of breastfeeding/expressing milk.
Pay: Not required to be paid (statute is silent on pay; federal rule applies).
Federal floor (PUMP Act): reasonable break time and a private space that isn't a bathroom for one year after birth, for nearly all employees; unpaid unless the employee isn't fully relieved of duty. Employers with fewer than 50 employees may be exempt only if compliance would cause undue hardship.
Frequently asked questions
Are breaks required by law in Hawaii?
No adult break law. Minors 14–15: 30-minute rest or meal period after 5 consecutive hours. Federal law requires no breaks, but short breaks that are given must be paid and unpaid meal periods must be duty-free.
How many breaks do you get for an 8-hour shift in Hawaii?
None for adults — Hawaii has no general meal or rest break law. Under federal law, any short break you give (5–20 minutes) must be paid.
Do minors get breaks in Hawaii?
Minors 14 and 15 may not work more than 5 consecutive hours without at least a 30-minute rest or meal period (DLIR: 'at least a thirty minute rest or meal period after five consecutive hours of work for fourteen- and fifteen-year-old minors'). No break rule for 16- and 17-year-olds.
Are lactation breaks required in Hawaii?
Employers must provide (1) reasonable break time for an employee to express milk for the employee's nursing child for one year after the child's birth each time the employee needs to express milk, and (2) a location, other than a restroom, shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public. Covered employers must post a notice in a conspicuous place and keep employees informed of these protections. Employers with fewer than 20 employees are exempt from the break/space requirements if they show undue hardship (significant difficulty or expense relative to size, resources, nature or structure). Hawaii law also prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of breastfeeding/expressing milk. The federal PUMP Act also applies: reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for one year after birth.
Official Hawaii sources
Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-07- Minors — HRS ch. 390 (Child Labor Law), §390-2; HAR Title 12, ch. 25
- Lactation — HRS §§378-91 to 378-93 (esp. §378-92)
- Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), Wage Standards Division; Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (lactation)
- U.S. DOL — Breaks and meal periods (FLSA)
- 29 U.S.C. 218d — PUMP Act
Compare
Also “Minors only”: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin
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Helpful guides
General information, not legal advice. Industry rules, union contracts and agency exemptions can change these requirements. Confirm with Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), Wage Standards Division; Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (lactation).