AI Legal Issues for Hawaii Employers: AI and Its Preventive Potential
In a recent interview with the Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession, leading legal scholar Richard Susskind said of AI in the legal industry, “It’s rational to be both excited and wary. It’s rational to be both optimistic and pessimistic.” In other words, it’s only human to see both sides of the AI coin. Susskind wrote […]
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Hawaii Supreme Court Rules Per-Hour Unit Applies to Minimum Wage Damages and Compliance
Earlier this year, the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii submitted a certified question to the Hawaii Supreme Court: Q: What unit of measure applies when assessing minimum wage compliance and damages under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) §§ 387-2 and 387-12? Is it the per-workweek unit used under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)? Or is […]
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ES&A Ranked Among Hawaii’s Best Law Firms 2027
Best Law Firms 2027 has ranked ES&A among Hawaii’s best firms for Employment Law-Management, Labor Law-Management, Litigation-Labor & Employment, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Corporate Governance Law. The rankings, issued by Best Lawyers®, incorporate client and peer evaluations; to be eligible, firms must have at least one lawyer recognized in the current edition of The […]
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AI Legal Issues for Hawaii Employers: Your Launch Plan
Using AI in some aspect of your business is more “if” than “when,” if you’re not already there. Keep in mind that the AI adoption process is a change management exercise that affects company operations, financials, and communication. Before you launch: For more on AI legal issues for Hawaii employers, you can also watch the Hawaii […]
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Oahu Kona Low Business Recovery Grant Applications Accepted Through Nov. 15
The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, in partnership with the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT), is still accepting applications for the Oahu Kona Low Business Recovery Grant through Nov. 15, 2026. The grant is funded by the State of Hawaii. To be eligible, applicants must have sustained material, economic, or physical harm directly […]
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AI Legal Issues for Hawaii Employers: The Chatbot Is Not Your Confidant
Considering the multitude of expenses business owners face, it’s not hard to understand the incentive to use free or inexpensive AI to cut legal spend. Why pay attorney rates when AI can get you 75% of the way to a good-enough-for-now answer – especially for a “quick” question, policy, contract, or business plan? But when does good-enough-for-now become problematic later? Remember: Wherever you […]
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OSHA Hazard Communication Deadline for Compliance Is Nov. 20
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces to have standardized labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, and to train workers to handle the chemicals appropriately. In the May 20, 2024 revision of the HCS, employers were given a deadline of […]
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AI Legal Issues for Hawaii Employers: AI HR Management Tools and Potential for Bias
AI Legal Issues for Hawaii Employers: AI HR Management Tools and Potential for Bias Artificial intelligence (AI) tools in HR management are more and more frequently used to automate such processes as: Employers using agentic tools should closely monitor their systems for indications of bias; note that Hawaii recognizes a wide variety of protected classes. While […]
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OSHA FactSheet Offers Workplace Guidance on Opioid Emergencies
The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) recently released a fact sheet on “Opioid Overdose Rescue with Reversal Medications” to help employers respond to opioid emergencies in the workplace. Preparedness strategies suggest employers should: The USDOL Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance emphasizes that while these medications are critical, they do not replace emergency services; […]
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ELA Webinar: Beyond the Ballot – What Washington’s Next Chapter Means for Business, Nov. 10
We’ve made it to the other side of the 2026 midterms, so it’s time for the Employment Law Alliance (ELA) post-election discussion on what to expect as the new Congress takes shape. ES&A President Anna Elento-Sneed will be on the panel discussing topics including: As the sole Hawaii member of the ELA, ES&A invites you to attend […]
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