Hawaii

Hawaii is the 50th state admitted to the United States. The Kingdom of Hawaii was sovereign from 1810 to 1893 when it was overthrown by the monarch. It was an independent nation from 1894 to 1898 when it became a US territory.

The state lies in the Ninth Circuit District Court of the United States. Hawaii was admitted its statehood on August 21, 1951. With a land-area of about 10,500 miles, it is the 43th largest in the US. It is the 40th largest by population, with nearly 1.5 million inhabitants. Hawaii’s Capital City is Honolulu, and it is nicknamed “The Aloha State.”   The largest cities are: Honolulu, Pearl City, Hilo, Kailua, and Waipahu. Hawaii is the only US State located in Oceania, and the only which is comprised of only islands. It is also the only US State which isn’t located in North America.

Natural scenery, diverse culture, public beaches, oceans, and active volcanoes, are among the many reasons why the state is such a popular tourist destination. In fact, tourism is the state’s main source of income. Defense is another area which the state sees funding, as several US Army and Marine Bases are located in Hawaii. Agriculture, manufacturing, and the service industry (hotel chains, tourism) are the leading areas of income for the state today.

The Hawaii Court system is known as the Hawaii State Judiciary and is led by the Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court.  There are four levels, broken equally into the trial level and the appellate level.  The court system consists of the following courts:

  • The Hawaii State Circuit Court is the primary civil and criminal court, ruling on all jury trial cases, with exclusive jurisdiction over probate, guardianship and criminal felony cases.
  • Dealing with Family Law, the Hawaii State Family Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over minors, termination of parental rights, adoption, along with other family matters.
  • The Hawaii State District Courts handle traffic infractions and other small claims disputes, where the dispute does not exceed USD 25,000 or the criminal offense is punishable by a fine, or imprisonment of less than one year. 
  • The state’s intermediate appellate court is the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, it reviews appeals from the state trial court and its decisions are subject to the State Supreme Court Review.
  • The state supreme court is the Hawaii State Supreme Court; it makes binding decisions on appeals from the state’s lower courts, and is also responsible for administrative tasks with the Hawaii judiciary.

The National Law Review covers news from the state of Hawaii. Cases and laws about employment law, wage and hourly law, agency news, federal and state election news, and topics like immigration, are highly covered on NLR’s site. Visitors can also read about general information which comes out of the state of Hawaii.  

Custom text Title Organization
Aug
5
2016
August 2016 Tax Credits & Incentives Update Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered
Aug
3
2016
Salary Levels Aren’t the Only Ones Moving Up: More Minimum Wage Changes Coming in 2017 Godfrey & Kahn S.C.
Jul
15
2016
Hawaii Governor Signs Renewable Fuels Production Tax Credit Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
Feb
1
2016
Hawaii is No Paradise for Daily Fantasy Sports – Skill Measured by Average Players, not Experts Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Jan
18
2016
New Year Rings in with More Minimum Wage Increases Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Aug
17
2015
Continued Employment Adequate Consideration for Non-Compete Imposed Mid-Employment, Hawaii Judge Rules Jackson Lewis P.C.
Jul
25
2015
New Hawaii Medical Marijuana Law Bars Use in Workplace; Zero Tolerance Policies Still Enforceable Jackson Lewis P.C.
Jul
10
2015
Hawaii Bans Non-Compete and Non-Solicit Clauses in High-Tech Employment Jackson Lewis P.C.
Jun
13
2015
Hawaii Sets 100% Renewable Energy Goal and Opens the Door to Community Solar Foley & Lardner LLP
Jun
1
2015
Hawaii Bill Mandates 100% Renewable Energy by 2045, but Obstacles Remain Mintz
May
26
2015
Hawaii Pay-To-Play Law Survives Legal Challenge Covington & Burling LLP
Mar
24
2015
Hawaii Supreme Court Says Employer Failed to Establish “Rational Relationship” Between Applicant’s Drug Conviction and Position Sought Proskauer Rose LLP
Dec
23
2014
Ho Ho Ho GMO! The 2014 GMO Legislation Scorecard Mintz
Dec
5
2014
Daubert Decisions Not Just for District Courts Anymore IMS Legal Strategies
Dec
2
2014
Qualifying for the Antique Exception to the Ivory Ban Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Dec
2
2014
Ivory Ban’s Effects on Collectors, Museums, Musicians and the Art Trade Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Nov
25
2014
Health Care Law Update - November 24, 2014 Mintz
Nov
21
2014
Legislative Updates - Ban the Box Laws Gathering Momentum Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, P.C.
Sep
8
2014
Hawaii District Judge Approves $2.4 Million EEOC Settlement with Four Hawaii Farms for over 500 Thai Farmworkers U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Aug
28
2014
Hawaii G-M-O: Kauai County GMO Regs Struck Down in Federal Court Mintz
Jul
30
2014
Matson Navigation Company to Pay a Settlement of $9.95 Million to U.S. Government for Improperly Billing the U.S. Department of Defense for Ocean Fuel Surcharges; Whistleblower to Receive $2.5 Million Tycko & Zavareei LLP
May
27
2014
Another State Increasing Its Minimum Wage - Hawaii Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Nov
24
2013
La Rana Hawaii, LLC, A Former Licensee of Señor Frog’s, to Pay $350,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Jun
3
2013
Panda Express Agrees to Early Settlement with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to Resolve Sexual Harassment Suit U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Mar
3
2013
Perception Is Reality (Re: Americans with Disabilities Act and “Perceived As” Claims) Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Dec
24
2012
New Wave of “Occurrence” Statutes Doesn’t Affect Old Policies Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Dec
4
2012
Energy & Environment Law Update – December 2, 2012 Mintz
Nov
4
2012
Señor Frog’s, Altres Sued By EEOC For Severe, Rampant Sexual Harassment U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Sep
28
2012
EEOC Sues Panda Express Restaurant in Hawaii for Rampant Sexual Harassment U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Sep
10
2012
Kauai County in Hawaii Settles EEOC Race Harassment Case for $120,000 U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Aug
20
2012
U.S. EPA’s Regional Administrator honors new “green” AS-EPA office building / Top environmental official in islands for coral reef meeting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Aug
17
2012
Hawaii Electric Company to Pay $50,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Jul
22
2012
Court Orders Hawaii HealthCare Professionals and Its Owner to Pay over $190,000 for Age Discrimination U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Apr
11
2012
Inartful Pleading Does Not Defeat Duty to Defend Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP
Jan
3
2012
Federal Court in Hawaii fines local union, its officer and its attorney for obstructing NLRB investigation National Labor Relations Board
Jul
15
2011
The New Wave of Insurance Construction Defects? Four States Enact Statutes Favoring Coverage for Faulty Workmanship Barnes & Thornburg LLP
May
22
2011
Judge orders payment of $347,000 in back wages and penalties, 3-year debarment of Global Horizons from H-2A agricultural program U.S. Department of Labor
Mar
1
2011
NLRB Findings: Stephens Media, LLC, d/b/a Hawaii Tribune-Herald (37–CA–7043, 356 NLRB No. 63) Hilo, HI, February 14, 2011. National Labor Relations Board
 

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