Can your marital status affect your job? In Hawaii, employers generally cannot treat workers differently because they are married or unmarried. This protection can apply when someone applies for a job or works for an employer. What is marital status discrimination?...
Resilience And Strength
Year: 2026
Are you being paid correctly for overtime and on-call hours in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, where the cost of living is among the highest in the country, unpaid wages or miscalculated overtime can create real financial pressure for workers in Hilo and across the Big Island. Understanding state and federal wage rules is an important first step...
What evidence supports a wrongful termination claim?
Losing your job can be especially difficult when you believe your employer fired you for an unlawful reason. In Hawaii, not every termination violates the law, but employees may have legal protections in certain circumstances. If you believe your employer wrongfully...
What documents do I actually need in my estate plan?
Planning for the future means protecting what matters most. Many people wonder which legal documents belong in an estate plan. The answer depends on your specific situation, but certain core documents form the foundation of nearly every complete plan. Key documents...
Pregnancy isn’t required for pregnancy discrimination
Pregnancy discrimination often happens to women when they are already pregnant. Their boss may deny them the ability to go to medical appointments, for instance, or make it difficult for them to take maternity leave. If a woman announces her pregnancy and then has her...
Could you inherit a parent’s debts?
When a parent passes away, you may already know that you are going to inherit assets. Perhaps you have talked with them about how they want to pass on financial assets or tangible assets. Maybe you have read the estate plan, so you are aware of the exact specifics and...
Understanding pregnancy accommodation rights
Pregnancy can bring about many life changes, both at home and in the workplace. One thing that should never be part of that experience is workplace discrimination. Employees should be able to focus on their health and growing families without worrying about unfair...
“Captive audience” meetings and your rights in the workplace
About a dozen states, including Hawaii, have enacted laws to prohibit employers from having “captive audience” meetings of a political nature. In other words, they can’t require employees to attend such meetings or events. These laws also prohibit employers from...
Can employers refuse to pay workers a bonus after they quit?
When employees leave their jobs, businesses must ensure they pay them for all time worked. Employees usually receive at least one paycheck after their job officially ends. In addition to paying the departing worker’s salary or hourly wages, employers may also need to...
If a loved one left multiple wills, which is valid?
When a loved one who never wanted to talk about their eventual death – let alone any kind of estate planning – passes away, family members don’t often expect to find a will. Sometimes there is none. That’s when intestacy laws take over. Other times, they find multiple...

