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HRS §386-6

When Hawaii's workers' compensation law applies

This section explains when Hawaii's workers' compensation law covers injuries. It applies to injuries in Hawaii, and also to injuries outside Hawaii if the worker was hired in Hawaii. It also covers some workers hired elsewhere who are injured while working in Hawaii.

employeesemployers

The statute, as written — Territorial applicability

(a) This chapter shall be applicable to all work injuries sustained by employees within the territorial boundaries of the State. (b) If an employee who has been hired in the State suffers work injury, the employee shall be entitled to compensation under this chapter even though the injury was sustained without the State. The right to compensation shall exclude all other liability of the employer for damages as provided in section 386-5. All contracts of hire of employees made within the State shall be deemed to include an agreement to that effect. (c) If an employee who has been hired without the State is injured while engaged in the business of the employee's employer, and is entitled to compensation for the injury under the law of the state or territory where the employee was hired, the employee shall be entitled to enforce against the employee's employer the employee's rights in this State if the employee's rights are such that they can reasonably be determined and dealt with by the director of labor and industrial relations, the appellate board, and the court in this State.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.