HR topics · Meal and rest breaks by state

Meal and rest breaks in Hawaii

Hawaii has no general meal or rest break requirement for adult employees.

Does Hawaii require meal or rest breaks?

According to the Hawaii Wage Standards Division, the only break requirement is in the Hawaii Child Labor Law (HRS 390-2): employers must give minors 14 or 15 years old a 30-minute rest or meal period after five consecutive hours of work.

Do breaks have to be paid?

State law does not require breaks for adults, so this depends on employer policy and federal rules. Under federal rules, short breaks are generally counted as work time, while a bona fide meal period when the employee is fully relieved of duty is not.

General information, AI-prepared and checked against the official sources listed, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities, contracts and union agreements can add rules. Last reviewed October 2026. How answers are made