Haw. Rev. Stat. § 346-2: Appointment of personnel.

The director of human services shall appoint such personnel in conformity with law as the director deems necessary. All employees of the department of human services shall be appointed subject to any civil service law relating to state employees; in the event there is no civil service law in effect, then in accordance with a merit system meeting applicable federal requirement; provided that in the event of any conflict between applicable mandatory federal requirements and any state civil service law or regulations, the former requirements shall prevail.