Hawaii

US State Abbreviation

State of Hawaii Holidays & Observances

Comprehensive list Hawaii Official National and State Holidays and how they are observed

Hawaii State Day: August 21

Became the 50th State to join the Union that makes up our Nation.

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Hawaii Official State Holidays

Hawaii Legal state holidays are proclaimed in the states statutes along with special observance days. Private employers in Hawaii are not required to close on any of the listed holidays nor are they required to allow employees to take either paid or unpaid time off on the holidays or to pay employees any premium wage rates to employees who work on the holidays.

List of Hawaii Legal Public Holidays

If a legal holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. If a legal holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the prior Friday.

New Year's Day - January 1

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - 3rd Monday in January

Presidents' Day - 3rd Monday in February

Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day - March 26

Good Friday - Friday before Easter – usually falls in March or April

Memorial Day - last Monday in May

King Kamehameha Day - June 11

Independence Day - July 4

Statehood Day - 3rd Friday in August

Labor Day - 1st Monday in September

Veterans' Day - November 11

Thanksgiving Day - 4th Thursday in November

Christmas Day - December 25

Election days in the county where held (does not include primary or special elections)

Hawaii Special Observances

These days are not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday, they are special awareness days.

Kalaupapa Month - January

Human Trafficking Awareness Month - January

Saint Marianne Cope Day. - January 23

Civil Liberties and the Constitution Day - January 30

Asian Lunar New Year Commemoration Week - the one week period following the day of the Chinese New Year

`ÅŒlelo Hawai`i Month - February

Baha'i New Year's Day - March 21

Financial Literacy Month - April

Buddha Day - April 8

May Day is Lei Day - May 1

Saint Damien de Veuster Day - May 10

Outdoor Heritage Month - June

World Ocean Day - June 8

Juneteenth - June 19

International Yoga Day - June 21

Kupuna Recognition Day - 4th Saturday of July

Language Access Month - August

Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month - September

Queen Lili €˜uokalani Day - September 2

Patriot Day - September 11

Peace Day - September 21

Gold Star Family Day - last Sunday in September

Domestic Violence Awareness Month - October

Kalo Appreciation Month - October

Filipino-American History Month - October

Farm to School Month in Hawaii - October

Children and Youth Day and Month - 1st Sunday in October and October

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Day - October 2

Respect for Our Elders Day - 3rd Sunday of October

Arbor Day - 1st Friday in November

Homelessness Awareness Month - November

Caregiver Recognition Day - 1st Saturday of November

Makahiki Commemoration Day - November 20th

Bodhi Day - December 8

Sakada Day - December 20

State Statutes: (Source with Universal Citation)

Hawaii Revised Statutes: Title 1. General Provisions: 8. Holidays and Periods of Recognition and Observance

8-1 Holidays designated.

The following days of each year are set apart and established as state holidays:

The first day in January, New Year's Day;

The third Monday in January, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day;

The third Monday in February, Presidents' Day;

The twenty-sixth day in March, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day;

The Friday preceding Easter Sunday, Good Friday;

The last Monday in May, Memorial Day;

The eleventh day in June, King Kamehameha I Day;

The fourth day in July, Independence Day;

The third Friday in August, Statehood Day;

The first Monday in September, Labor Day;

The eleventh day in November, Veterans' Day;

The fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving Day;

The twenty-fifth day in December, Christmas Day;

All election days, except primary and special election days, in the county wherein the election is held;

Any day designated by proclamation by the President of the United States or by the governor as a holiday.

8-1.5 Discoverers' Day.

The second Monday in October shall be known as Discoverers' Day, in recognition of the Polynesian discoverers of the Hawaiian Islands, provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

8-2 Observance of holidays falling on Sundays and Saturdays.

If any of the State's legal holidays fall on Sunday, the following Monday shall be observed as a holiday. If the day falls on Saturday, the preceding Friday shall be observed as a holiday. Attorney General Opinions: When a national holiday falls on Saturday, the Saturday and preceding Friday are considered holidays. Att. Gen. Op. 64-1

8-3 Banking holidays.

Whenever in the opinion of the governor, a public emergency exists, and it seems to the governor to be in the public interest, the governor may by proclamation designate and proclaim as legal banking holidays in the State such number of consecutive days as in the governor's judgment the emergency may require. The governor may extend the same as the governor may deem advisable. The proclamation of bank holidays shall not relate to any business other than that of banking and kindred operations, nor as prohibiting, perforce, any voluntary conduct of banking business, in whole or in part, except to the extent declared in the proclamation or in any further proclamation in enlargement or modification thereof. 

8-3.4 Civil Liberties and the Constitution Day.

January 30 shall be known and designated as "Civil Liberties and the Constitution Day" to celebrate, honor, and encourage public education and awareness of the commitment of individuals to preserving civil liberties for Americans of Japanese ancestry and actions to promote equal rights for all citizens. This day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

8-3.5 Patriot Day.

September eleventh shall be known and designated as "Patriot Day". This day shall not be construed to be a state holiday. 

8-3.6 Gold Star Family Day. The last Sunday in September shall be known as "Gold Star Family Day", in recognition of the family members of the men and women who have given their lives for their country while serving with the armed forces of the United States in time of war or during a period of hostilities. This day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday. 

8-4 Buddha Day.

April 8 of each year shall be known and designated as "Buddha Day", provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

8-4.5 Baha'i New Year's Day.

The 21st day of March shall be known as Baha'i New Year's Day, provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

8-4.6 Asian Lunar New Year Commemoration Week.

The one week period following the day of the Chinese New Year shall be known and designated as the "Asian Lunar New Year Week of Commemoration in Hawaii". This week is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday.

8-5 King Kamehameha celebration commission.

8-5.5 Queen Lili €˜uokalani Day.

September 2 of each year shall be known and recognized as "Queen Lili €˜uokalani Day" in memory of the birth of Queen Lili €˜uokalani on September 2, 1838; provided that this day shall not be a state holiday.

8-6 REPEALED.

8-7 Arbor Day.

The first Friday in November shall be known as Arbor Day, provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

8-8 Saint Damien de Veuster Day.

May 10 of each year shall be known and designated as "Saint Damien de Veuster Day", provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

8-8.2 Saint Marianne Cope Day.

January 23 of each year shall be known and designated as "Saint Marianne Cope Day", provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

8-9 Respect for Our Elders Day.

The third Sunday of October shall be known and recognized as "Respect for Our Elders Day" during which our elders may be honored with appropriate displays, celebrations, and ceremonies. Respect for Our Elders Day shall not be taken as a state holiday.

8-10 Bodhi Day.

December 8 of each year shall be known and designated as "Bodhi Day" in recognition that on this day Prince Siddhartha Gautama, after six years of study and rigorous ascetic practices and meditation, attained "enlightenment" or "awakening" to the true nature of existence, which was later conceptualized as the "Four Noble Truths". This day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

8-11 Children and Youth Day and Month.

The first Sunday in October shall be known and designated as "Children and Youth Day", and the entire month of October shall be known and designated as "Children and Youth Month". This day and month are not and shall not be construed to be state holidays.

8-12 World Ocean Day.

 June 8 of each year shall be known and recognized as "World Ocean Day" to celebrate and honor the oceans of the world, improve international relations, and increase public awareness of conservation management of the ocean environment; provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday. All citizens shall be encouraged to observe and celebrate the blessings of the oceans and endeavor to become caretakers of the ocean for future generations

8-13 Lei Day.

May 1 of each year shall be known as "May Day is Lei Day in Hawai €˜i"; provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday. 

8-14 Financial Literacy Month.

The month of April shall be known and designated as "Financial Literacy Month". This month is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday. 

8-15 Kupuna Recognition Day.

The fourth Saturday of July shall be known and designated as Kupuna Recognition Day, in recognition of the very significant role that kupuna play in Hawaii's culture, history, and traditions. This day is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday. 

8-16 Peace Day.

September 21 of each year shall be known and recognized as "Peace Day" to promote peace programs, improve international relations, and increase educational awareness of peace; provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday. All citizens shall be encouraged to observe and celebrate the blessings of peace and endeavor to create peace on Peace Day

8-16.2 Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Day.

October 2 of each year shall be known and designated as "Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Day"; provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

8-17 Caregiver Recognition Day

The first Saturday of November shall be known and designated as "Caregiver Recognition Day", in recognition of the very significant role that caregivers play in support of Hawaii's elderly and persons with disabilities. This day is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday.

8-18 Filipino-American History Month.

The month of October shall be known and designated as "Filipino-American History Month". The month of October shall commemorate the contributions of Filipino-Americans to the history and heritage of Hawaii and the United States. This month is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday. 

8-18.5 Sakada Day.

 December 20 of each year shall be known and designated as "Sakada Day"; provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday. 

8-19 Makahiki Commemoration Day.

November 20th of each year shall be known and designated as Makahiki Commemoration Day. This day shall not be construed as a state holiday.

8-20 Language Access Month.

The month of August shall be known and designated as "Language Access Month" to promote awareness of language access for government services and emphasize the importance of and need for language access in Hawaii's diverse society. This month is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday.

8-21 Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The month of October shall be known and designated as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" to promote public awareness of domestic violence as a significant societal, public health, and criminal justice problem. This month is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday.

8-22 Kalo Appreciation Month.

The month of October shall be known and designated as "Kalo Appreciation Month" to celebrate the strong kalo tradition in Hawaii and the cultural connection of native Hawaiians to kalo, the Hawaiian word for taro. This month is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday.

8-23 Homelessness Awareness Month.

The month of November shall be known and designated as "Homelessness Awareness Month" to promote public awareness of homelessness as a significant societal, public health and welfare, and public housing shortage problem. This month is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday. 

8-24 `ÅŒlelo Hawai`i Month.

The month of February shall be known and designated as "`ÅŒlelo Hawai`i Month" to celebrate and encourage the use of Hawaiian language. This month is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday. 

8-25 Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

The month of January shall be known and designated as "Human Trafficking Awareness Month" to promote public awareness of human trafficking as a significant societal and public health crisis. This month is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

8-28 Outdoor Heritage Month.

The month of June shall be known and designated as "Outdoor Heritage Month" to celebrate Hawaii's diverse natural environment and recreational activities.

8-29 Farm to School Month in Hawaii.

The month of October shall be known and designated as "Farm to School Month in Hawaii" to promote public awareness of the State's farm to school initiative "connecting keiki to the 'Äina" through coordinated activities and resources connecting schools and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy Hawaii-grown meals in school cafeterias; improving student nutrition; lowering childhood obesity; supporting local farmers; and exposing students to agriculture, nutrition, and educational opportunities through classroom activities, farm field trips, and school gardens. This month is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday. 

8-30 Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month.

The month of September shall be known and designated as "Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month". This month is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday.

8-31 International Yoga Day.

June 21 of each year shall be known and designated as "International Yoga Day"; provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

8-32 Juneteenth.

June 19 of each year shall be known and designated as Juneteenth to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States and in honor and recognition of the significant roles and contributions of African Americans in the history of the United States. Juneteenth is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.

8-33 Kalaupapa Month.

The month of January shall be known and designated as "Kalaupapa Month", to serve as an annual reminder of the importance of Kalaupapa and the significant sacrifices and contributions of its residents throughout the history of Hawaii. This month is not and shall not be construed as a state holiday.

This article updated as of October 2023. While every attempt is made to be sure the information is accurate, we do not guarantee the information provided. States determine these holidays and new calendars and dates observed each year and may eliminate or add holidays and observances. Please check with your local state government website for the most up to date information and legal holiday guidelines.

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