The state of Hawai?i is set to implement significant pay increases for its government officials, including judges, top executives, and legislators. These hikes, ranging from 35% to 48% over six years, are designed to ensure the recruitment and retention of highly qualified public officials. The increases are scheduled to begin on July 1 unless the state legislature actively votes to reject them.
The state’s Salary Commission has recommended an initial 32% raise for state legislators, which would elevate their salaries from the current $74,160 to $97,896 by 2027. Following this raise, legislators would receive additional increases of 4% annually for the next two years, with a final 8% increase by 2030, totaling a 48% rise over six years. In the end, the salaries of rank-and-file members would be $114,348. The salaries of the House Speaker and the Senate President are also set to rise, from $83,052 to $128,052 over the same period.
Republican House Minority Floor Leader Diamond Garcia has expressed opposition to this pay hike. He announced plans to introduce a resolution in the House to reject the proposed raises, noting that a salary of $74,000 is considered a dream retirement amount for many in his district. Garcia acknowledges the possibility of a more modest increase but argues that the nature of legislative work does not justify such high salaries, pointing out that many legislators have external employment and that the legislature is essentially a part-time commitment.
The Commission had considered even more substantial increases earlier this year, viewing legislative roles as full-time jobs. However, concerns about the entire pay package being rejected—including raises for judges, the governor, and department heads—led to a scaled-back proposal. Commission Chair Colleen Hanabusa emphasized the need for lawmakers to accept the proposed increases to ensure raises for judges and executives can proceed.
Alongside these deliberations, a group of left-leaning House Democrats urged the commission to limit initial legislative raises to $97,500, aligning with the median income for Honolulu. They suggested future raises be tied to the consumer price index, a recommendation that influenced the commission’s decision.
Governor Josh Green requested a reduction of his proposed pay raise. The commission had initially considered a 61% increase for his role, but Green favored a more modest raise in light of challenges faced by the state’s working populace. Ultimately, the commission settled on a 15% raise effective from July 1, followed by subsequent increases, culminating in a total 39% raise over six years.
In support of the pay discourses, Green committed to increasing charitable donations to benefit community initiatives if the salary hikes are enacted.
Moreover, the commission recommended a 40% to 43% pay increase for approximately 95 state judges over the next six years. Recruiting and retaining qualified judges has become challenging as many skilled lawyers often earn more in the private sector. Circuit Court judges would see their pay rise from $217,104 to $327,948, while District and Family Court judges would have their salaries grow from $205,296 to $301,776 by 2030. The Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court’s pay is projected to rise incrementally from $248,124 to $364,752 over the same timeframe.
Separately, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, an autonomous state agency, plans to increase the annual salary of its trustees and board chair to $91,560 and $100,308, respectively. These changes will take effect unless overturned by the legislature.
