Hawaii nanny & household employment guide
Everything a family or nanny needs to know about household employment law in Hawaii: overtime, payroll taxes, and workers' compensation. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.
Overtime rules in Hawaii
- Live-out overtime begins after 40 hours/week.
- Live-in overtime begins after 40 hours/week.
- Overtime multiplier: 1.5x.
Hawaii's Domestic Worker Bill of Rights requires 1.5x after 40 hours for live-out and live-in workers.
Payroll taxes in Hawaii
Federal (applies everywhere): Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45% from both employer and employee, plus FUTA at 0.6% on the first $7,000 (employer only).
Hawaii state taxes:
- State unemployment (SUTA, employer): 2.40% on the first $62,000 of wages.
- State income tax (employee, estimated effective): ~7.00%.
- Other state employee taxes (SDI / paid leave): 0.50%.
State disability / paid leave: HI TDI: ~0.5% paid by employee.
Workers' compensation in Hawaii
Required for any household employee earning $225+ in any quarter.
Put it in writing
Once you have the rules straight, document the terms. The free Kindred offer letter generator builds a professional nanny offer letter covering pay, overtime, PTO, and duties. See also the nanny tax calculator and take-home pay calculator.
Hiring in Hawaii? Post a job free on Kindred or see what nannies earn.