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UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2026 · STATUTE-VERIFIED

Hawaii Retirement Mandate: Hawaii Saves

Hawaii Retirement Savings Program has not launched yet (DLIR projects launch in late December 2026 (joined the Vestwell multistate alliance in 2026).). It applies to Hawaii employers with 1+ employees that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Penalty: Up to $50 / mo per unenrolled employee. No employer deadlines have been announced yet..

Hawaii Retirement Savings ProgramCOMING SOON
State program
1+ employees
Employee threshold
Up to $50 / mo per unenrolled employee
Non-compliance penalty
// 60-second check

What does Hawaii actually require?

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Informational only, not legal or tax advice.

Annual exposure · Hawaii
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// verified to the statute

Hawaii Retirement Savings Program at a glance.

Who is covered

Hawaii Retirement Savings Program covers Hawaii employers with 1+ employees that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Counting rule: Any employer with one or more employees in Hawaii (HRS §389-2); no averaging rule. No years-in-business requirement (the two-year period in the statute is the existing-plan look-back).

Penalty and enforcement

Once launched: $25 per employee per month unenrolled, rising to $50 per month after assessment, plus make-up contributions. The program has not launched yet.

Deadlines

No employer deadlines have been announced yet.

Source

HRS §§389-2, 389-5, 389-14 (Act 296 (2022); Act 113 (2025)) · Official program: labor.hawaii.gov/hrsp · Verified 2026-09-17.

// state plan vs your own

You can comply two ways. Only one builds anything.

The state auto-IRA

Compliance, nothing else
  • No employer match allowed
  • Low Roth-IRA contribution limits
  • One-size-fits-all investments
  • No tax credits for your business
RECOMMENDED

Your own 401(k)

Compliant — and working for you
  • Match if and when you want
  • Far higher contribution limits
  • SECURE 2.0 credits offset setup
  • A real recruiting & retention perk
// frequently asked

Asked by employers here.

What is Hawaii Retirement Savings Program?

Hawaii Retirement Savings Program is Hawaii's state-facilitated retirement savings program. It has not launched yet (DLIR projects launch in late December 2026 (joined the Vestwell multistate alliance in 2026).). Program: https://labor.hawaii.gov/hrsp/.

Who must comply with Hawaii Retirement Savings Program?

Hawaii Retirement Savings Program covers Hawaii employers with 1+ employees that do not offer a qualifying retirement plan. Counting rule: Any employer with one or more employees in Hawaii (HRS §389-2); no averaging rule. No years-in-business requirement (the two-year period in the statute is the existing-plan look-back).

What is the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program penalty?

Once launched: $25 per employee per month unenrolled, rising to $50 per month after assessment, plus make-up contributions. The program has not launched yet.

When are the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program deadlines?

No employer deadlines have been announced yet.

How do Hawaii employers become exempt?

Exempt if a plan under 401(a)/401(k), 403(a)/403(b), SEP (408(k)), SIMPLE (408(p)) was offered or maintained at any time in the preceding two years. A private 401(k) or SIMPLE IRA satisfies the mandate and may qualify for SECURE 2.0 startup credits.

Find out where you stand — before the state does.

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