If your only workers in Hawaii are part-time or seasonal, you still need workers compensation insurance once you have even one of them, because Hawaii counts part-time, temporary, and permanent workers alike. There is no hours threshold and no headcount minimum under Chapter 386, so a single part-time hire makes coverage mandatory. Keeping people part-time does not get you out of the rule.
Who this is for: Hawaii owners whose staff is all part-time, seasonal, temporary, or a small handful of hourly workers.
The short version
- Part-time, temporary, and seasonal workers all count as employees in Hawaii.
- One part-time worker is enough to require a policy; there is no hours or headcount minimum.
- The only near-household exception is a domestic worker paid under 225 dollars in cash a quarter.
- Coverage must be in place before the worker starts, not after the season begins.
- Your premium is based on actual payroll, so a small part-time crew costs less to cover.
Why part-time still counts
Hawaii's rule reaches your first employee, and it does not care how many hours they work. The state's definition of employer is having one or more persons in your employment, and it spells out that part-time and temporary workers are included. That means a weekend-only cashier, a summer-only crew member, and an on-call helper are all employees who must be covered. The one narrow gap is personal or family household service paid under 225 dollars in cash in the current quarter and in each recent quarter, which is exempt. Nearly everyone else you pay to work is covered.
| Your staff | Is comp required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| One part-time employee | Yes | No hours or headcount minimum |
| Seasonal-only crew | Yes | Covered for the season they work |
| On-call or temporary helper | Yes | Still an employee while working for you |
| Household worker under 225 dollars a quarter | No | Narrow domestic exemption by pay amount |
What it costs for a small part-time crew
The good news is that workers comp is priced on actual payroll, so a small part-time crew usually costs far less to cover than a full-time team. When your season ends and payroll drops, the premium follows, because most policies are audited against the wages you actually paid. That means you are not paying full-time rates for part-time help. We can set the policy up so it flexes with your season instead of overcharging you up front.
A Lahaina example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Lahaina shave-ice stand runs with two part-time workers in summer and closes in the off months. The owner assumes part-timers do not count until the stand is bigger, but in Hawaii the first part-time worker triggers the rule. She puts a policy in place before the season opens, and because it is rated on her small summer payroll the cost is modest. When one worker slips and sprains a wrist, comp covers the medical bills instead of coming out of the till. See our workers comp for retail and shops page.
Real questions Hawaii owners ask
Do part-time employees need workers comp in Hawaii?
Yes. Hawaii counts part-time, temporary, and seasonal workers as employees, so one part-time worker is enough to require a policy. There is no hours or headcount minimum.
How many hours before a worker needs coverage?
There is no hours threshold. Hawaii covers a worker from the first hour of employment, so even a few hours a week makes them a covered employee.
We only operate a few months a year. Do we still need it?
Yes. Seasonal workers are covered for the season they work, so a business that runs only part of the year still needs a policy while it has staff.
Is there any part-time worker who does not count?
Only a narrow one. A domestic worker in a private home paid under 225 dollars in cash during the quarter is exempt. Almost every other part-time worker is covered.
Will a part-time crew cost a lot to cover?
Usually not. Workers comp is priced on actual payroll, so a small part-time crew costs far less than a full-time team, and the premium is trued up to the wages you really paid.
Do I need coverage before the season starts?
Yes. The policy has to be in force before the worker starts, not after. Put coverage in place as part of opening for the season.
Do on-call or temporary helpers count?
Yes. An on-call or temporary helper is still an employee while they work for you, so they count toward the requirement just like a regular part-timer.
Why Hawaii owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. Hawaii has no state-run fund, so private insurers compete for your business and we can shop your rate freely. If no insurer will take you, there is a guaranteed backstop: HEMIC, a member-owned insurer that has to cover businesses others turn down.
- We catch pricing mistakes. Your price depends heavily on the category your work falls into for pricing (the class code). Put people in the wrong category and you overpay for years. We review your payroll and classifications before you buy.
- Proof of coverage, fast. Need a certificate (proof of coverage) for a general contractor or a landlord before Monday? We turn those around the same business day for most carriers.
- We help lower the score that drives your price. Insurers give you a score based on your past claims that raises or lowers your cost (the experience modification rate). We review it each year, flag errors, and connect you with return-to-work and safety resources that bring it down.
- Real people when a claim happens. When someone gets hurt, we stay involved through the life of the claim, not just at renewal.
Related Hawaii guides
Every Hawaii business is set up a little differently. These companion guides answer the same question for other situations, plus the national explainers behind the terms used here.
- Business insurance in Hawaii (start here)
- Workers comp: the owner's overview
- I own an LLC: do I need workers comp?
- I'm a sole proprietor: do I need workers comp?
- I own a corporation (C-corp or S-corp): do I need it?
- We're a partnership: do we need workers comp?
- We're a nonprofit: do we need workers comp?
- My workers are 1099: do I still need it?
- I only employ family: do I need workers comp?
- Remote or out-of-state staff: do I need coverage?
- What happens if I don't carry workers comp?
- How much does workers comp cost?
- How do I get workers comp (even if turned down)?
- What insurance do I need for a contractor license?
- Workers compensation insurance, explained
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- Hiring your first employee: what changes
- What workers comp does not cover
- Hawaii retail workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Hawaii rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Disability Compensation Division or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.