PEO Authority

HR Hawaii

IRS CPEO CertifiedESAC AccreditedRegional PEOHI-Headquartered
Kailua-Kona, HI·Founded 1998·Serving 1-500 employees
No reviews yet·
1
States Served
5
Services
4
Industries
1-500
Serving

About HR Hawaii

HR Hawaii, Inc. is a Kailua-Kona, Hawaii-based Professional Employer Organization founded in 1998 with the goal of giving small and mid-sized Hawaii businesses access to the same HR and payroll infrastructure available to large corporations, at a price they can afford. HR Hawaii holds IRS CPEO certification, listed on the federal registry as HR Hawaii Inc, and has maintained ESAC accreditation since 2005 — one of the longer continuous accreditation records among Hawaii PEOs. The company markets itself as the only locally owned IRS Certified PEO based in Hawaii, distinguishing it from mainland PEOs that serve the islands remotely. Services include payroll processing, HR administration, healthcare and benefits enrollment, workers compensation coverage, and ongoing HR compliance support across all Hawaiian islands. As a small, locally owned firm, HR Hawaii positions itself around hands-on service and direct owner accessibility rather than the scale of national competitors.

Certifications

IRS Certified PEO (CPEO)
Certification active · Verified by PEO Authority
Certified ✓

The IRS Certified PEO (CPEO) designation is awarded by the Internal Revenue Service to PEO companies that meet rigorous standards for financial health, tax compliance, and operational integrity. HR Hawaii holds CPEO status — a distinction held by fewer than 15% of PEOs in the United States.

Federal Tax Liability
As a CPEO, HR Hawaii assumes sole liability for federal employment taxes on wages paid — protecting your business from tax exposure.
Annual Financial Audits
CPEOs undergo independent CPA audits annually and must maintain a surety bond, ensuring fiscal accountability and solvency.
IRS Reporting
HR Hawaii files employment taxes under their own EIN as CPEO, simplifying your year-end tax obligations and eliminating duplicate filings.
ESAC Accredited PEO
Certification active · Verified by PEO Authority
Certified ✓

ESAC accreditation is awarded by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation, the PEO industry's gold-standard independent accreditor. It requires a PEO to meet more than 40 financial, ethical, and operational standards on an ongoing basis. HR Hawaii holds ESAC accreditation — a distinction held by roughly 10% of PEOs in the United States.

Financial Assurance
ESAC backs accredited PEOs like HR Hawaii with over $15 million in surety bond coverage, protecting clients, employees, and taxing authorities.
Independent Audits
Accredited PEOs submit quarterly independent verifications of tax, benefit, and payroll obligations to maintain their accreditation.
Ethical & Operational Standards
HR Hawaii is continuously monitored against more than 40 financial, ethical, and operational standards set by ESAC's independent board.

Why businesses choose HR Hawaii

✓IRS CPEO certified — the highest federal designation available to a PEO, requiring annual independent audits
✓ESAC accredited since 2005 — one of the longest continuous accreditation records among Hawaii PEOs
✓Marketed as the only locally owned IRS Certified PEO headquartered in Hawaii
✓Founded in 1998 with a mission to make enterprise-grade HR affordable for small Hawaii businesses
✓Coverage across all Hawaiian islands from a Kailua-Kona home base
✓Direct, hands-on service model typical of an owner-operated local firm

Company Details

Headquarters
Kailua-Kona, HI
Founded
1998
Serving
1-500 employees
CPEO Certified
Yes - IRS Verified
ESAC Accredited
Yes - ESAC Verified
Coverage
1 states
Company Type
Regional PEO

HR Hawaii in Your State

Browse PEO options and compare providers in each state where HR Hawaii operates.

Hawaii

Pros & Cons

+
Pros
✓
Dual certification
Holds both IRS CPEO certification and ESAC accreditation — a combination not every Hawaii PEO can claim.
✓
Locally owned
Marketed as the only locally owned IRS Certified PEO headquartered in Hawaii, rather than a mainland transplant.
✓
Long ESAC track record
Accredited since 2005, indicating sustained compliance with bonding and audit standards over two decades.
✓
Statewide coverage
Serves businesses across all the Hawaiian islands from its Kailua-Kona base.
−
Cons
−
Smaller scale
As a locally owned firm, benefits buying power is more limited than national PEOs with larger worksite employee pools.
−
Single-state focus
Service is concentrated in Hawaii, so it is not a fit for businesses expanding to the mainland.
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Limited public information
Less third-party review coverage and public data available compared with larger national providers.
PEO Authority Editorial Note

HR Hawaii stands out among Hawaii PEOs for holding both IRS CPEO certification and long-running ESAC accreditation while remaining locally owned rather than a mainland or national brand. For businesses that specifically want a Hawaii-headquartered, dual-certified PEO, HR Hawaii is one of the few options that checks every box. Its smaller scale means less benefits-buying leverage than a national provider, but many Hawaii businesses value the tradeoff for closer, more responsive service. Best for: small and mid-sized Hawaii businesses that want a locally owned PEO with full federal and industry certification.

Frequently Asked Questions

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