The Hawaii Labor Relations Board conducts hearings to decide complaints filed by public and private sector employees, employee organizations or unions, and employers alleging prohibited or unfair labor practice complaints. These cases typically involve an employer or union's failure to bargain in good faith, an employer or union's interference with an employee's right to participate in or refrain from bargaining activities, or a union's failure to fairly represent its members in the negotiation of agreements or the pursuit of grievances. The Board also conducts union representation elections, supervises the impasse procedures in public employment, and issues declaratory rulings which clarify the applicability of governing statutes and its rules.

  In the public sector, the Board has jurisdiction over employers and employees of the State of Hawaii and counties, the Judiciary, the Department of Education, including the public charter schools, the University of Hawaii system, and the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

  In the private sector, the Board has jurisdiction over primarily agricultural employees and employers and those employees and employers who are not subject to the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board. Typically, the employees are members of unions or are involved with organizing activities.

  In addition, the Board decides contests and appeals of decisions rendered by the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, State of Hawaii, through the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH) under HRS Chapter 396. These cases are typically employer contests of citations and penalties issued and appeals in discrimination cases involving the reporting of safety and health violations.