2018 Hawaii Minimum Wage
The 2018 Hawaii Minimum Wage is $10.10.
Effective 2018-01-01Source: Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/14) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)Verified 2026-09-01
Compared with 2017
| Item | 2017 | 2018 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $9.25 | $10.10 | +$0.85 (+9.2%) |
Who it applies to
Employees covered by the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, including those also covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act when the state standard is higher.
What changed this year, and why
Hawaii's minimum wage increased to $10.10 per hour on January 1, 2018, up from $9.25 per hour in 2017.
Common questions
- What is the tip credit under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law?
- Under certain conditions, employers may pay tipped employees less than the full minimum wage. The tip credit amount and conditions are set by Section 387-2 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Tipped employees' wages plus tips must still meet a threshold above the minimum wage rate.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Under Hawaii law, an employer may pay a tipped employee as much as 75 cents less per hour than the state minimum wage of $10.10, provided the worker's wages plus tips bring total earnings to at least $7 more per hour than the minimum wage rate. This is the only subminimum-wage provision on this poster. The document does not describe separate lower rates for minors, students, or workers in training, so in Hawaii there is no special lesser minimum for those groups based on the state Wage and Hour Law. Employers who try to take the tip credit must make sure the employee's combined wages and tips still satisfy the $10.10 hourly floor; if they do not, the employer must make up the difference. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations can recover back wages for workers who were underpaid.
$10.10 per hour effective January 1, 2018 TIP CREDIT - Under certain conditions, "tipped employees" may be paid up to twenty-five cents less per hour; effective January 1, 2015, up to 50 cents less per hour; and effective January 1, 2016, up to 75 cents less per hour (if wages + tips equal $7 more per hour than minimum wage rate).
Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/14) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
If you believe your employer is not paying the proper minimum wage in Hawaii, or if you have questions about wage requirements, you should contact the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The department has offices on each of the main islands to assist workers with wage complaints and questions. On Oahu, the office is located in Honolulu. On Kauai, there is an office in Lihue. On Maui, the office is in Wailuku. On Hawaii Island, there are offices in both Hilo and Kealakekua to serve workers on the Big Island. The department can investigate wage complaints and recover unpaid wages for workers who have been underpaid, either through administrative action or court proceedings. If the department finds that an employer has violated the wage law, it can require the employer to pay back wages to the affected employees. Workers do not need to hire a lawyer to file a complaint; the department handles the investigation and enforcement process.
ENFORCEMENT: The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations may recover back wages, either administratively or through court action, for employees who have been underpaid.
Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/14) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
Hawaii has its own minimum wage law that works alongside the federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act. When both state and federal laws apply to a worker's employment, the higher of the two rates must be paid. Since Hawaii's minimum wage of $10.10 per hour is higher than the federal minimum wage, Hawaii workers are entitled to the state rate. This principle of providing greater employee protections is common across states. Some states set minimum wages above the federal floor, while others match it. In Hawaii, the state law specifically states that when Hawaii standards are higher than federal law, the state standards govern. This means employers in Hawaii cannot pay the lower federal rate just because it exists; they must pay at least $10.10 per hour to comply with Hawaii law. The goal is to ensure workers receive the most protective wage standard available to them.
Minimum wage under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law also applies to employment covered by the federal wage and hour law (Fair Labor Standards Act) when Hawaii standards are higher than the federal law.
Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/14) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
Under Hawaii law, the state minimum wage in 2018 is $10.10 per hour. For tipped employees, an employer may take a tip credit of up to 75 cents per hour — meaning the employer can pay the worker as much as 75 cents below the $10.10 floor — but only if the employee's wages plus tips together equal at least $7 more per hour than the minimum wage rate. The Hawaii poster does not mention meal or lodging credits: the only allowance that counts toward the minimum wage is tips. If the combined total of cash wages and tips falls short, the employer must make up the difference. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations may recover back wages for workers who were underpaid.
$10.10 per hour effective January 1, 2018 TIP CREDIT - Under certain conditions, "tipped employees" may be paid up to twenty-five cents less per hour; effective January 1, 2015, up to 50 cents less per hour; and effective January 1, 2016, up to 75 cents less per hour (if wages + tips equal $7 more per hour than minimum wage rate). See Section 387-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/14) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
The federal government sets a nationwide minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Individual states like Hawaii can set their own minimum wage rates, which may be higher, lower, or equal to the federal rate. When a state sets a rate below the federal minimum wage, the higher federal rate applies to workers in that state, with some limited exceptions. In Hawaii's case, this is not an issue because Hawaii's minimum wage of $10.10 per hour is well above the federal rate. However, the principle is important: federal law establishes a floor that protects workers even in states with weaker wage laws. If Hawaii were to set a minimum wage below the federal rate, workers would still be entitled to the federal minimum. The Hawaii Wage and Hour Law recognizes this by stating that state standards apply when they are higher than federal law, implicitly acknowledging that the federal rate controls when it is higher. This dual system ensures that no worker in the United States receives less than the federal minimum, while allowing states to provide stronger protections when they choose to do so.
Minimum wage under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law also applies to employment covered by the federal wage and hour law (Fair Labor Standards Act) when Hawaii standards are higher than the federal law.
Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/14) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)
How the rate is adjusted each year, and who announces it
Hawaii's minimum wage is adjusted through legislative action rather than automatic inflation adjustments. The state legislature has established a schedule of increasing minimum wage rates that took effect on specific dates. The rate increased to $10.10 per hour effective January 1, 2018, following previous increases in earlier years. Unlike some states that tie their minimum wage to inflation indices, Hawaii's adjustments are set by statute. This means future increases require new legislation by the Hawaii State Legislature. The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announces when new rates take effect and posts updated notices for employers to display in the workplace. Workers and employers can check the current minimum wage by contacting the Department of Labor or visiting their website. The department maintains offices on all main islands to provide information and assist with wage questions. Because adjustments are not automatic, the minimum wage may remain at the same level for multiple years if the legislature does not pass new increases. Employers are responsible for knowing and following the current rate, and the department provides resources to help them stay informed about any changes.
$10.10 per hour effective January 1, 2018
Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/14) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/14) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)
- Hourly
$10.10 per hour effective January 1, 2018
Other years
Every Hawaii Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state