§388-4  Payment of wages to relatives ofdeceased employees.  Where an employee dies leaving any wages, vacation, orsick leave pay due the employee, the employer shall, within thirty days aftersuch death, whether or not a personal representative has been appointed, paythe wages, vacation, or sick leave pay in an amount not exceeding $2,000 to,and upon application by the surviving spouse or reciprocal beneficiary or, ifnone, by an adult child.  The employer shall require the applicant to showproof of his or her relationship to the deceased by affidavit and toacknowledge receipt of the payment in writing.  Any such payment shalldischarge the employer to the extent thereof and the employer shall not beliable to the decedent's estate.  Any person to whom payment is made shall beanswerable therefor to anyone prejudiced by an improper distribution. [L 1967,c 11, §1; HRS §388-4; am L 1984, c 174, §1; gen ch 1985; am L 1997, c 383, §56]