Hotels, motels, restaurants and seasonal businesses in Wailea must comply with Hawaii Retirement Savings Program if they meet the 1+ employees threshold — or offer a qualifying plan. Once launched: $25 per employee per month unenrolled, rising to $50 per month after assessment, plus make-up contributions.
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Informational only, not legal or tax advice.
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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).
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.
No employer deadlines have been announced yet.
HRS §§389-2, 389-5, 389-14 (Act 296 (2022); Act 113 (2025)) · Official program: labor.hawaii.gov/hrsp · Verified 2026-09-17.
Yes, if the business meets the threshold. Hawaii Retirement Savings Program applies to Hawaii employers with 1+ employees that do not offer a qualifying plan. Hotels, motels, B&Bs and restaurants in Wailea follow the same rules as any other employer — seasonal operation does not exempt you.
Not automatically. Coverage depends on how Hawaii counts employees: 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). Seasonal employers can also satisfy the mandate with a SIMPLE IRA or 401(k), which may exclude employees who work fewer than 1,000 hours a year.
Yes. 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 plan also gives you a real recruiting benefit for seasonal and year-round staff.
Yes. SECURE 2.0 Act tax credits are available to small businesses with fewer than 100 employees that start a new qualifying retirement plan (the full startup credit applies at 50 or fewer employees; it phases down from 51–100). Credits of up to $5,000/year for 3 years, plus up to $1,000 per employee in employer-contribution credits (phasing down over five years), are available regardless of whether your business is seasonal.
No employer deadlines have been announced yet. 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. Contact Kandelaki Solutions for a free compliance audit.
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