Places That Hire at 15 in Honolulu, HI: Key Takeaways
- 15-year-olds in Honolulu can secure entry-level restaurant positions such as cashier, host/hostess, busser, or limited kitchen roles, earning Hawaii's minimum wage of $12.00/hour (2025).
- Popular fast-food chains hiring 15-year-olds include McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Subway, Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Jack in the Box.
- Fast-casual restaurants like Panda Express, Chipotle, Jamba Juice, and Starbucks also offer job opportunities for teens aged 15.
- Hawaii law restricts 15-year-olds to working up to 3 hours on school days (max 18 hours/week) and up to 8 hours on non-school days (max 40 hours/week), with specific permitted hours to protect their education and health.
Finding work at 15 in Honolulu, HI, is possible mainly through entry-level restaurant jobs offering valuable customer service experience.
Employers looking to hire should consider effective restaurant staff hiring strategies to find the right teens for these positions.
This guide details types of roles available, well-known hiring places, work hour rules, and helpful resources for teens and their families.
What Types of Jobs Can a 15-Year-Old Get in the Restaurant Industry in Honolulu, HI?
At 15 in Honolulu, teens typically find entry-level roles that introduce them to food service while being age-appropriate and compliant with labor laws.
Common positions include cashier, host or hostess, busser, and select limited kitchen roles such as prep work not involving dangerous equipment.
These roles help teens develop skills in customer interaction, teamwork, and basic food handling at Hawaii's minimum wage starting at $12.00 per hour.
Employers can benefit from following a guide to create restaurant job descriptions that attract motivated young candidates.
Fast-Food Places That Hire at 15 in Honolulu, HI
Several well-known fast-food chains in Honolulu commonly hire 15-year-olds and provide friendly work environments for young workers.
McDonald's
McDonald's hires 15-year-olds for crew member positions involving order taking, food preparation support, and customer service.
Burger King
At Burger King, 15-year-olds work in roles such as cashier, front counter service, and basic food assembly to support operations.
Wendy's
Wendy's offers opportunities to 15-year-olds as cashiers and kitchen helpers engaged in food prep and maintaining cleanliness.
Learn about the fast food worker job description to understand responsibilities typical for young hires.
Subway
Subway hires 15-year-olds as sandwich artists helping prepare food orders while engaging customers.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell employs 15-year-olds as team members working front counter and food assembly duties for fast service.
KFC
KFC hires young teens in customer service and food prep roles suitable for 15-year-olds focusing on teamwork.
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut may offer 15-year-olds work as delivery assistants (where allowed) or kitchen helpers assisting cooks.
Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box employs younger workers for crew roles including cashier, food prep, and cleaning tasks.
Fast-Casual Restaurants That Hire at 15 in Honolulu, HI
Fast-casual restaurants also hire 15-year-olds in entry-level positions focused on food and customer service.
Panda Express
Panda Express hires 15-year-olds as food service crew assisting with order assembly and customer interaction.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle offers positions for 15-year-olds helping with prepping fresh ingredients and serving guests at the counter.
Prep cooks generally start in roles like these; learn more about the prep cook job description.
Jamba Juice
Jamba Juice hires teen workers aged 15 for preparing smoothies and providing friendly customer service.
Starbucks
Starbucks hires 15-year-olds generally as baristas-in-training or cashiers focusing on beverage preparation and guest experience.
Discover what the barista job description entails to get a feel for this entry-level role.
How Many Hours Can a 15-Year-Old Work in Honolulu, HI?
Hawaii enforces child labor restrictions to ensure minors' work does not interfere with schooling or health.
On school days, 15-year-olds may work up to 3 hours daily and no more than 18 hours weekly.
On non-school days, such as weekends or holidays, they may work up to 8 hours per day and up to 40 hours per week.
Permitted work hours span from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on school days and the preceding day.
On non-school days and the day before them, work hours extend from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
No teen under 16 may work more than six days consecutively without a day off.
After five consecutive hours of work, a 30-minute rest or meal break must be provided.
These laws align with federal child labor standards but remember to confirm with updated local rules.
Resources for 15-Year-Olds looking for Jobs in Honolulu, HI
- Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations: Child Labor
- Hawaii Employers Council: Hiring Minors in Hawaii
- U.S. Department of Labor: YouthRules!
For employers, reviewing how to hire restaurant staff fast can help accelerate your hiring process efficiently.