Paid Family Leave Fails Again in Hawaii

by Ray Catania

The Hawaii 2025 Legislature has once again rejected a paid family leave bill—this time, HB775.

What Is the Paid Family Leave Bill?
According to a brochure from Paid Family Leave Hawaii, an initiative supported by the Hawaii Children’s Action Network (HCAN) and the Working Families Coalition, paid family leave allows workers to take time off while still receiving part of their income.

This benefit applies when caring for a loved one, addressing their own serious health needs, or bonding with a new child.

On February 22, over 150 supporters—mostly young women who work with economically at-risk women and children—rallied at the State Capitol in support of HB775.

This fight has persisted for over 20 years, with the Legislature largely ignoring the concerns of many women and key advocates like legislators Jeanné Kapela and Kim Coco Iwamoto.

Despite solid research conducted by HCAN and its leader, Nicole Woo, most Hawaii legislators have continued to dismiss the need for paid family leave. Elected Democrats must do more.

Currently, only a quarter of Hawaii’s workforce has access to some form of family leave, mostly through union contracts. However, only 21% of Hawaii’s workers are covered by union contracts, many of them government employees.

The United States remains the only developed country without a national paid leave program. To date, only 13 states and the District of Columbia have enacted such laws.

A Personal Perspective
When my wife gave birth in 1991 and 1993, her employer did not provide any family leave.

Fortunately, as a State of Hawaii employee covered by a strong union contract, I was able to use my accumulated leave to stay home and support my wife, receiving full pay for over a month per child. This protection came through my United Public Workers (UPW) contract.

Most of Hawaii’s public sector unions—such as the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA)—and some private-sector unions offer some form of paid family leave.

However, both the United Public Workers (UPW) and the Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA) do not support a statewide paid family leave program. They argue that private employers should fully fund it, with no payroll deductions from workers.

The reality, however, is that most private employers will not fund it, nor will the Hawaii government—especially amid economic uncertainty, exacerbated by federal funding cuts.

A Path Forward
HB775 proposed that the State Department of Labor administer the program and determine eligibility, with funding coming from small payroll deductions – potentially as little as $4 per month from employees.

If neither the government nor most private businesses are willing to contribute funds, that should not prevent Hawaii’s workers from caring for their families—especially the most vulnerable.

Many of us have family members who need financial support, and it is our responsibility to help them.

Instead of resisting change, government officials and employers should demonstrate their commitment to families by supporting paid medical leave.

RAY CATANIA is a Hawaii Workers Center board member.