Minimum wage to increase to $16 for the next two years

On Jan. 1, Hawaiʻi’s statewide minimum wage rate will increase from $14 to $16 per hour.

This increase in minimum wage is the third step in a series of scheduled increases that will culminate in a final rate of $18 per hour on Jan. 1, 2028.

In 2022, Hawaiʻi passed Act 114, which established a schedule to raise the minimum wage from $10.10 to $18 over the course of five and a half years to help working families cope with the high cost of living.

In 2025, the Legislature also enacted Act 115, which establishes a minimum civil penalty of $500 for employers who violate the wage and hour law.

“The Legislature’s phased approach to increasing the minimum wage is designed to support working families and foster economic stability in Hawaiʻi,” said Jade T. Butay, director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. “These penalties serve as a deterrent and help ensure fairness for all employers who comply with wage laws.”

For more information about Hawaiʻi’s wage and hour law, visit the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations website.