Hawaii Jury Duty Laws: $50 Pay, Exemptions and Employer Rules

Hawaii state-court jury service is governed by Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 612, with the qualifications in HRS 612-4. Since July 1, 2026, Hawaii pays jurors $50 for each day of actual attendance, up from $30, under Act 126 of 2026 (HB 2094), plus 33 cents a mile or the cost of an adult bus fare, whichever is higher.

An employer may not fire, threaten or coerce you because of a jury summons or service (HRS 612-25). A person 80 or older may claim an exemption, but only by asking for it (HRS 612-6).

Information last verified on October 7, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This page covers jury service in Hawaii state courts, run through the jury pool offices of the First (Oahu), Second (Maui County), Third (Hawaii island) and Fifth (Kauai) Circuits. A summons from the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii follows federal law, summarized on our jury duty laws by state hub.

Do you have to go? The short answer

Yes, unless you are not qualified, you claim one of the exemptions listed in HRS 612-6, or the court excuses or defers you. Hawaii's exemptions are not automatic. The Judiciary says "These exemptions are optional, so if you do not claim it, you may receive a Juror Summons," and an exempt person may still be selected if they waive the exemption (HRS 612-14(a)).

Everything outside the exemption list goes through the court's discretion. To sort out which route might fit before you contact the court, try our jury duty exemption checker.

Who can serve on a jury in Hawaii

Under HRS 612-4(a), a prospective juror is qualified if the person is:

• a citizen of the United States and of Hawaii;
• at least 18 years old;
• a resident of the judicial circuit; and
• able to read, speak and understand English.

The section sets no minimum length of residence. The Judiciary says it builds the jury list each year from voter registration and driver's license lists.

A person is disqualified if, because of a disability, they are incapable of rendering satisfactory jury service; the court may require a certificate from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse (HRS 612-4(b)). The Judiciary also says a person who does not fully understand English must still appear and ask the court to be excused.

Felony convictions

HRS 612-4(b) disqualifies a person who "Has been convicted of a felony in a state or federal court and not finally discharged or pardoned." The bar is not lifelong. "Finally discharged" means the person has received, or is eligible to receive, a certificate of discharge under HRS 831-5, which follows completion of the sentence or of service under probation or parole (HRS 612-4(c)).

The Judiciary's FAQ describes the rule more bluntly, as having "not been convicted of a felony in the State or Federal Court." The statute controls, and it lets a person serve again after final discharge or a pardon. If you are unsure of your own status, the jury pool office or a Hawaii lawyer can help.

Exemptions, excuses and deferrals in Hawaii

HRS 612-6 lists who "may claim exemption from service as a juror." Each one is optional: you claim it on the Juror Questionnaire, and you can choose to serve instead.

Age 80 and older

Hawaii has no upper age limit for jury service. Under HRS 612-6(8), "A person eighty years of age or older" may claim an exemption, and the Judiciary lists being 80 or older among the reasons you may ask to be exempt. It is your choice: if you do not claim it, you may still be summoned. We found no other age provision in HRS 612-1 through 612-27.

Military and National Guard members

The Hawaii exemption covers a member of the armed forces or militia "when on active service and deployed out-of-state" (HRS 612-6(3)). Being in the service or the Guard without an out-of-state deployment is not on the list, though you may still ask the court for a hardship excuse.

Separately, federal law says an active-duty member of the armed forces may not be required to serve on a state or local jury if the member's branch Secretary determines that service would unreasonably interfere with military duties or adversely affect unit readiness, and that determination is conclusive (10 U.S.C. § 982).

Hardship excuses

Under HRS 612-7, "A prospective juror shall not be excused by a court for slight or trivial cause, but only when it appears that jury duty would entail a serious personal hardship, or that for other good cause the prospective juror should be excused either temporarily or otherwise." The court decides every request.

The Judiciary says excuse requests must be written and signed, delivered at least two weeks before your appearance date, and backed by documents such as a doctor's note or travel itinerary. Its examples include caregiving with no available substitute and a disability or medical condition, which needs a certificate from a physician or physician assistant. If you hear nothing back, the request was not granted. The Judiciary says requests cannot be made through the jury phone line or website.

A summoned person who believes they are exempt or entitled to an excuse may also raise it with the judge, even without an earlier request (HRS 612-20). A person who is disqualified, exempt or excused is not subject to service for a period that fits the nature of the reason (HRS 612-21).

Deferring your service

The Judiciary says you may ask to defer service by writing or calling with an explanation, and the court may or may not grant it. In its words, "you are only allowed one deferral each time you are summoned." In the Second, Third and Fifth Circuits, deferral requests must be in writing. That one-deferral limit comes from the court's page, not from the statute.

How much does jury duty pay in Hawaii?

Hawaii jurors are paid $50 for each day of actual attendance. Act 126 of 2026 (signed Act text; HB 2094) amended HRS 612-8(a) to read: "Each juror or prospective juror shall be paid [$30] $50 for each day of actual attendance at court." The Legislature's measure status page records "Act 126, on 06/24/2026," and the bill took effect July 1, 2026. The Judiciary's FAQ also states the $50 rate.

The copy of HRS 612-8 posted on the Legislature's website still read $30 when we checked on October 7, 2026, because the posted statute had not yet been updated for Act 126. Rely on the $50 figure from the Act and the Judiciary, and expect the posted text to catch up.

The state sets the rate, not the county. The Judiciary says checks are mailed about four to five weeks after a pay period closes (pay periods end on the 15th and the last day of each month), lunch is provided only during deliberations, Maui County neighbor-island jurors are not reimbursed for car rentals, and a fee over $600 is reported on a Form 1099.

The parking exemption is narrower than it sounds. The Judiciary warns that jurors who park in prohibited zones or county lots may still be ticketed, and the court validates garage tickets in downtown Honolulu.

Hawaii employer rules for jury duty

Job protection

Under HRS 612-25(a), "An employer shall not deprive an employee of the employee's employment, or threaten or otherwise coerce the employee with respect thereto, because the employee receives a summons, responds thereto, serves as a juror, or attends court for prospective jury service."

The section has no minimum employer size, no full-time limit and no requirement that you give your employer notice. The Judiciary suggests telling your employer when the summons arrives as a courtesy, and the jury clerk or trial law clerk can give you a work excuse form certifying your service. The statute does not address shift scheduling or the use of vacation or sick time.

Penalties and the 90-day deadline

An employer who violates the protection is guilty of a petty misdemeanor (HRS 612-25(b)), which carries up to 30 days in jail (HRS 706-663) and a fine of up to $1,000 (HRS 706-640(1)(e)).

If you are fired in violation of the law, you "within ninety days from the date of discharge may bring a civil action for recovery of wages lost as a result of the violation and for an order requiring the reinstatement of the employee" (HRS 612-25(c)). Damages cannot exceed lost wages for six weeks, and a prevailing employee is allowed a reasonable attorney's fee. The civil action covers firing; threats or coercion short of firing carry the criminal penalty. Ninety days is short, so talk to a Hawaii employment lawyer promptly. For how this fits with other limits on firing, see our page on Hawaii at-will employment laws.

Does your employer have to pay you?

Hawaii's jury statute does not require private employers to keep paying your wages during jury service; HRS 612-25 has no wage-continuation provision. The Judiciary's FAQ says some employers continue normal pay voluntarily and union contracts may cover it, so check your contract, union agreement or handbook.

State, county and school employees should check their own leave rules, which we did not research for this page.

What happens if you miss jury duty in Hawaii

The process starts with the juror qualification form, which must be filled out and returned by mail to the clerk within ten days after you receive it (HRS 612-13(a)). If you do not return it, you may be summoned to appear before the clerk and may be punished for contempt (HRS 612-13(a)).

Under HRS 612-19(b), "A prospective juror who, wilfully or without reasonable excuse, fails to attend after receipt of a summons by the court may be arrested and punished for contempt." The clerk may also put your name back in the qualified jury wheel for the next jury year. The statute sets no fixed fine for failing to appear. If you missed your date, contact your circuit's jury pool office right away.

Lying on the form is a separate offense. The qualification form carries an acknowledgment that a wilful misrepresentation of a material fact may be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both, and HRS 612-13(c) makes wilfully misrepresenting a material fact to avoid or secure service a petty misdemeanor, which by statute carries up to 30 days and a fine of up to $1,000.

How long jury duty lasts in Hawaii

Under HRS 612-22, trial jurors on the certified list are subject to service for one calendar year, "provided that trial jurors shall serve only one day or one trial during the year." A juror who is challenged and excused, or called but not seated, goes back to the pool. A juror accepted to serve completes the trial and is then dismissed for the year.

A juror may be required to stay beyond the one day for a trial whose jury selection began that day (HRS 612-17(e)). The Judiciary says many trials last about three to four days. Grand jurors serve one year after being impaneled unless discharged sooner (HRS 612-16(e)).

How to respond to a Hawaii jury summons

1. Return the Juror Questionnaire within ten days, claiming any exemption that applies to you.
2. Send any excuse request in writing, signed, to the court named on your summons at least two weeks before your date, with supporting documents. Deferral requests in the Second, Third and Fifth Circuits must also be in writing.
3. After 5 p.m. on the business day before your date, check your report date and time through the Judiciary's Jury Duty Login (eJuror). In the First Circuit, if no trial time is shown, plan on a tentative afternoon trial and check again after 10:30 a.m.
4. Call your circuit's jury pool office with questions: First Circuit (Oahu) 808-539-4360; Second Circuit (Maui County) 808-244-2757 or 1-800-315-5879; Third Circuit (Hawaii island) 808-961-7646; Fifth Circuit (Kauai) 808-482-2349.

Watch for jury duty scams

The Hawaii Judiciary's scam alert page warns about callers, emails and texts claiming to be from the Judiciary or law enforcement and saying you have an outstanding summons or bench warrant for missing court or jury duty. It says "generally, the courts or law enforcement would not call or email unless you contacted us first seeking assistance with a specific question," that court staff do not demand identity details or immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency, and that caller ID can be spoofed. The real Juror Summons comes by mail a few weeks before your date.

Our guide to government impersonation scams explains how these schemes work, and our page on Hawaii scam and fraud laws covers where to report.

Disclaimer: This page is general legal information about Hawaii state-court jury service, not legal advice. The court that summoned you decides every exemption, excuse and deferral request. Information verified October 7, 2026. For questions about your summons, contact the jury pool office listed on it; for an employment dispute, consult a lawyer licensed in Hawaii.

Related pages

• Jury duty laws by state
• Hawaii at-will employment laws
• Hawaii court records
• Hawaii scam and fraud laws

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does jury duty pay in Hawaii?

Since July 1, 2026, Hawaii pays $50 for each day of actual attendance, under Act 126 of 2026 amending HRS 612-8. You also get the higher of 33 cents a mile round trip or an adult bus fare. The statute text posted online still showed the old $30 rate when we checked.

Can I get out of jury duty in Hawaii if I am over 80?

A person 80 or older may claim an exemption under HRS 612-6(8). It is optional, so you have to claim it on the Juror Questionnaire; if you do not, you may still be summoned.

Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty in Hawaii?

Hawaii's jury statute does not require private employers to pay wages during jury service. The Judiciary says some employers pay voluntarily and union contracts may cover it; state, county and school employees should check their own leave rules.

Can I be fired for jury duty in Hawaii?

No. HRS 612-25 bars an employer from firing, threatening or coercing you over a summons or service. A fired employee may sue within 90 days for up to six weeks of lost wages and reinstatement, and the employer commits a petty misdemeanor.

Can a felon serve on a jury in Hawaii?

A person convicted of a felony is disqualified until finally discharged or pardoned (HRS 612-4). Final discharge under HRS 831-5 follows completion of the sentence, probation or parole.

Is breastfeeding an exemption from jury duty in Hawaii?

Yes, a woman breastfeeding a child or expressing breast milk may claim an exemption for two years from the child's birth (HRS 612-6(9)). The Judiciary says to call your jury pool office for instructions.

How long is jury duty in Hawaii?

Trial jurors are subject to call for one calendar year but serve only one day or one trial during the year (HRS 612-22). The Judiciary says many trials last about three to four days.

What happens if I miss jury duty in Hawaii?

A prospective juror who wilfully or without reasonable excuse fails to attend after a summons may be arrested and punished for contempt (HRS 612-19(b)). The statute sets no fixed fine, and your name may go back in the wheel for the next jury year.

Can I postpone jury duty in Hawaii?

You may ask the court to defer your service, and the Judiciary says only one deferral is allowed each time you are summoned. In the Second, Third and Fifth Circuits the request must be in writing.