HI· State teen labor law
Hawaii teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Hawaii requires a Certificate of Employment for every minor under 18. 16-17-year-olds face a 10-hour daily cap (rather than a weekly cap) and may work until 12:30 AM on nights not preceding a school day.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Hawaii tightens daily and weekly limits while school is in session, then eases them during summer and school breaks. Each age band below shows both calendars side-by-side — a distinction federal summaries and most state-comparison tables skip.
Ages 14–15
School year
When school is in session
- Hrs/day (school day)
- 3 hr
- Hrs/day (Sat / Sun / holiday)
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 18 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 19:00
Note: Hawaii imposes a 9:00 PM cutoff on non-school nights (June 1 through Labor Day). No work during school hours.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 21:00
Note: Summer hours apply June 1 through Labor Day; evening cutoff extends to 9:00 PM.
Ages 16–17
School year
When school is in session
- Max hours per day
- 10 hr
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- 06:00 – 00:30
Note: Daily cap of 10 hours. Up to 12:30 AM on nights not preceding a school day; 10:00 PM on school nights.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 10 hr
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- 06:00 – 00:30
Note: Same 10-hour daily cap year-round.
Work permit
Hawaii requires a work permit for minors aged 14–17.
Every minor under 18 must obtain a Certificate of Employment from the DLIR before starting work. The minor and parent or guardian apply through the DLIR with proof of age and the employer's signed offer. CL-1 is for 14-15-year-olds, CL-2 for 16-17. Certificates are job-specific.
Form: Hawaii Certificate of Employment (CL-1 or CL-2)
Restricted occupations
All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17
Federal: 29 CFR Part 570
Operating power-driven meat-processing machines
Federal: HO-10
Roofing operations and work on or about a roof
Federal: HO-16
Door-to-door sales for minors under 18 without bonded supervisor
State: HRS §390-2
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18
State: HRS §281-78
See the full federal hazardous orders (HO-1 to HO-17) for plain-English summaries and cross-state additions.
Where these rules come from
State code: Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 390 (Child Labor)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://labor.hawaii.gov/wsd/child-labor/
Informational only — verify with the Hawaii Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Hawaii?
- Yes — under Hawaii law a 14-year-old can work up to 3 hours per school day, up to 18 hours per week, between 07:00 and 19:00. A Hawaii work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Hawaii?
- When school is in session, Hawaii allows a 15-year-old to work up to 3 hours per school day, up to 18 hours per week, between 07:00 and 19:00. During summer or school breaks the cap rises to up to 8 hours per school day, up to 40 hours per week, between 07:00 and 21:00.
- Does Hawaii require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — Hawaii requires a work permit for minors aged 14-17 (form: Hawaii Certificate of Employment (CL-1 or CL-2)). Every minor under 18 must obtain a Certificate of Employment from the DLIR before starting work. The minor and parent or guardian apply through the DLIR with proof of age and the employer's signed offer. CL-1 is for 14-15-year-olds, CL-2 for 16-17. Certificates are job-specific.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in Hawaii?
- During summer or school breaks, Hawaii allows a 16-year-old to work up to 10 hours per school day, between 06:00 and 00:30. Federal FLSA caps for 16- and 17-year-olds do not limit weekly hours, so the stricter state rule (if any) applies.
- What jobs can a minor not do in Hawaii?
- Hawaii prohibits minors from a number of hazardous occupations, including: all federal hazardous orders ho-1 through ho-17; operating power-driven meat-processing machines; roofing operations and work on or about a roof. The full list of federal hazardous orders (HO-1 through HO-17) also applies. See the Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 390 (Child Labor) citation on this page for the statutory source.