Where to log in and what you need

Hawaii's unemployment system is called the Hawaii Unemployment Insurance (UI) system, and you log in through the state's official portal at labor.hawaii.gov. The login page is labeled "Unemployment Insurance" and sits in the main navigation. You will need your Social Security number and a password you created when you first filed your claim.

If you have never logged in before, you must create an account first. The state does not send you a username — you use your Social Security number as your login identifier. If you filed your claim by phone or in person at a Hawaii Department of Labor office, you still need to set up online access yourself before you can check your claim status or manage your account.

The Hawaii UI portal works on most browsers, but the state recommends Chrome or Firefox for the smoothest experience. If you are using an older browser or have trouble loading the page, try clearing your cache and cookies, or switch to a different browser entirely.

Key Takeaways

  • Log in at labor.hawaii.gov using your Social Security number and a password you create yourself — the state does not assign you a username.
  • If you filed by phone or in person, you must still create an online account before you can access your claim information.
  • Once logged in, you can view your claim status, check payment history, and update your contact information.
  • If you forget your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page; the state will send a reset link to the email address on file.
  • Hawaii's UI office is closed on weekends and state holidays, but the online portal is available 24 hours a day.

Step-by-step: Creating your account for the first time

Go to labor.hawaii.gov and click on "Unemployment Insurance" in the main menu. On the login page, look for a link that says "Create Account" or "New User." Click it. You will be asked to enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and the last four digits of your phone number. The state uses this information to verify your identity before letting you create a password.

Next, you will create a password. Hawaii requires at least 8 characters, and the password must include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and at least one special character (such as !, @, #, or $). Write this password down somewhere safe — you will need it every time you log in. Do not use a password you have used for other websites or accounts.

After you create your password, the system will ask you to set up a security question and answer. Choose a question you can remember the answer to, and write both down. This is how you will recover your account if you forget your password later. Once you finish, you should see a confirmation message. You can now log in using your Social Security number and the password you just created.

What to do if you cannot log in

If you enter your Social Security number and password but the system says they are incorrect, first make sure you are typing them right. Passwords are case-sensitive, which means capital letters and lowercase letters are different. If you are certain you typed it correctly, click "Forgot Password" on the login page.

The "Forgot Password" link will ask you to enter your Social Security number and date of birth. The state will then send a password reset link to the email address you provided when you filed your claim. Check your email (including your spam or junk folder) for a message from the Hawaii Department of Labor. Click the link in that email and follow the steps to create a new password. The reset link usually expires after 24 hours, so do this soon after you request it.

If you do not receive a reset email within a few minutes, your email address on file may be wrong. Call the Hawaii Department of Labor at 808-586-8600 (Oahu) or toll-free at 1-877-520-4477 (other islands). Have your Social Security number ready. Staff can verify your identity and update your email address so you can reset your password online. The office is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.

What you can do once you are logged in

Once you log in, you will see a dashboard showing your claim status. This tells you whether your claim is "Active," "Inactive," "Denied," or "Under Review." You can also see the week you last filed a weekly claim and whether that claim has been processed and paid.

The portal lets you view your payment history, which shows every week you were paid and the amount. You can also see your benefit year (the 52-week period during which you can draw benefits) and how much of your total benefit amount you have used. If you need to update your mailing address, phone number, or email, you can do that in the account settings section without calling the office.

If you are required to file weekly claims, you can do that through the portal as well. The system will tell you which weeks are open for filing and which ones have already been submitted. You must file by 11:59 p.m. Hawaii time on the important date date, or your claim for that week will not be processed.

Common login problems and how to fix them

Some people see an error message saying "Your account is locked" after entering the wrong password too many times. If this happens, wait at least 30 minutes before trying again. The account will unlock automatically. If it stays locked after 30 minutes, call the Department of Labor at the numbers listed above.

If the website itself is not loading, check whether Hawaii's UI system is down for maintenance. The state sometimes takes the portal offline early in the morning (before 6 a.m. Hawaii time) or on weekends for updates. Try again a few hours later. If the site is still down and it is not a scheduled maintenance window, call the office to report the problem.

If you are using a public computer or a shared device, always log out when you are done. Click the "Log Out" button in the top right corner of the page. Do not just close the browser window, because that may leave your session open for someone else to access.

If you filed your claim by phone and need online access

Hawaii allows you to file claims by phone by calling the Department of Labor, but the phone system does not automatically create an online account for you. You must create one yourself at labor.hawaii.gov. Follow the "Create Account" steps listed above. Use the same Social Security number and date of birth you gave when you filed by phone.

Once your online account is set up, it will connect to your existing phone-filed claim. You should see your claim information and payment history right away. If you do not see your claim after logging in, wait 24 hours — the system sometimes takes a day to sync phone-filed claims with the online portal. If it still does not appear after 24 hours, call the office to confirm your claim was processed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset my password on the weekend?

Yes. The password reset system works 24 hours a day, even on weekends and holidays. You can request a reset link anytime, and it will be sent to your email when ready. However, if you need to speak with someone at the Department of Labor to update your email address or unlock your account, you must call during business hours: Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.

What if I never received a confirmation email when I created my account?

Check your spam or junk folder first — confirmation emails sometimes end up there. If you still do not see it after 10 minutes, your email address may have been entered wrong. Call the Department of Labor at 808-586-8600 (Oahu) or 1-877-520-4477 (other islands) to verify and correct your email address on file.

Can I log in from outside Hawaii?

Yes. The Hawaii UI portal is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. You do not need to be in Hawaii to log in or file your weekly claim. However, if you need to call the Department of Labor for help, remember that their hours are in Hawaii Standard Time, which is 2 to 3 hours behind mainland time zones.

Do I need to log in every week to file my claim?

Yes, if you are receiving unemployment benefits, you must file a weekly claim to continue receiving payments. Log in each week during your assigned filing window and answer the required questions about your job search and work status. The system will tell you which week you are filing for and the important date date.

What should I do if I see someone else's information when I log in?

Log out when ready and do not proceed. Call the Department of Labor right away at 808-586-8600 (Oahu) or 1-877-520-4477 (other islands) to report a possible security issue. Do not share your Social Security number or password with anyone, including Department of Labor staff — they will never ask for your full password over the phone.