People Partner

People Partner, Hawaii

This role will require a hybrid schedule, and travel between the islands, 20-30% of the time.

Compensation - $100-120k, no bonus

Key Responsibilities

Hawaiʻi Employment Law & Compliance

• Serve as the subject matter expert on Hawaii-specific employment laws and regulations.
• Jury duty, voting leave, and other protected leaves
• Ensure compliance with federal laws (FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII) as applied in Hawaii.
• Partner with Payroll and Finance to ensure accurate pay practices, meal/rest compliance, and proper classification.
• Support audits, inspections, and responses to claims from DLIR, EEOC, or other agencies.
• Review, localize, and enforce HR policies to ensure alignment with Hawaii law.

Employee Relations & Investigations

• Lead and manage employee relations matters including complaints, investigations, performance issues, corrective actions, and terminations.
• Conduct thorough, timely, and well-documented investigations in accordance with best practices and local legal requirements.
• Advise leaders on disciplinary action, risk mitigation, and appropriate documentation.
• Manage sensitive ER matters with discretion, consistency, and cultural awareness.
• Support grievance processes and union-related matters if applicable.

Manager & Leader Coaching

• Coach General Managers and department leaders on compliant people practices, effective documentation, and performance management.
• Provide real-time guidance on employee issues in fast-paced, guest-facing environments.
• Train leaders on Hawaii-specific compliance topics and ER best practices.

People Operations Support

• Support and oversee HR processes including onboarding, offboarding, leaves of absence, accommodations, and return-to-work.
• Partner with Benefits and Payroll teams to resolve employee questions related to PHCA, TDI, leave programs, and pay.
• Ensure consistency in employee experience and policy application across all Hawaii locations.

Risk Management & Reporting

• Identify ER trends, compliance risks, and recurring issues; proactively recommend corrective actions.
• Track and report ER metrics including investigations, turnover, discipline, and claims.
• Partner with Corporate HR and Legal on escalations and high-risk cases.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• 6–10 years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on employee relations and compliance.
• Demonstrated, hands-on experience with Hawaiʻi employment laws and regulations.
• Experience supporting multi-location, hourly workforces in hospitality, travel, retail, or similar industries.
• Strong investigation, documentation, and risk-assessment skills.

Preferred

• HR certification (PHR, SHRM-CP).
• Union experience.
• Experience working with DLIR, EEOC, or similar agencies.
• Bilingual (English/Japanese, English/Tagalog, or other languages common in Hawaii hospitality environments).

Core Competencies

• Expert knowledge of Hawaii labor laws and ER practices
• Strong judgment and risk awareness
• Clear, confident communicator with frontline leaders
• High emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity
• Ability to balance employee advocacy with business needs
• Detail-oriented with strong documentation discipline