2019 Hawaii Minimum Wage
The 2019 Hawaii Minimum Wage is $10.10.
Effective 2019-01-01Source: 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 2018
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2018.
| Item | 2018 | 2019 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $10.10 | $10.10 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
Employers and employees covered by the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law (Chapter 387, Hawaii Revised Statutes)
What changed this year, and why
Hawaii's state minimum wage remained at $10.10 per hour for 2019, unchanged from 2018.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Hawaii for 2019?
- The minimum wage in Hawaii is $10.10 per hour for 2019.
- Did the minimum wage change from 2018 to 2019?
- No. The minimum wage remained $10.10 per hour, the same as in 2018.
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Employees in Hawaii with questions about the minimum wage or who believe they have been underpaid should contact the nearest office of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The department has offices on Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island to serve workers throughout the state. Staff at these offices can provide information about wage requirements and help workers file complaints. The department's Wage Standards Division enforces the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law and has authority to recover back wages for underpaid employees, either through administrative proceedings or court action. Hawaii employers are required to post a notice about the minimum wage in a place accessible to employees, and this notice is available for download on the department's website at www.hawaii.gov/labor. Workers in Hawaii should reach out to their local office if they have concerns about their pay.
FOR MORE INFORMATION contact the nearest Department of Labor office:
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's minimum wage of $10.10 per hour applies to employment that is also covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act whenever Hawaii's standards are higher than the federal requirements. This means Hawaii workers are protected by whichever law provides the greater benefit. Since Hawaii's rate exceeds the federal minimum, employees in Hawaii must be paid at least $10.10 per hour. The Hawaii Wage and Hour Law requires employers to maintain accurate time records to document hours worked and wages paid. If an employer fails to pay the required minimum wage, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations can take enforcement action to recover back wages, either through administrative proceedings or through the courts. Workers in Hawaii who have been underpaid can seek assistance from the state's Wage Standards Division.
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, employers may take a tip credit that allows them to pay tipped employees less than the full minimum wage of $10.10 per hour. The tip credit provision permits an employer to pay up to 75 cents less per hour than the standard rate, provided the employee's wages plus tips received equal at least $7 more per hour than the minimum wage rate. The $10.10 minimum wage rate became effective January 1, 2018 with no end date specified, and the 75-cent tip credit became effective January 1, 2016 with no end date specified, so both amounts remain in effect for 2019. This means a tipped employee in Hawaii could be paid as little as 75 cents below the $10.10 minimum wage if the wage-plus-tips condition is satisfied. If the condition is not met, the employer must pay the full minimum wage. Hawaii's wage notice does not address meal or lodging credits. The tip credit rules are set forth in Section 387-2 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.
$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)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
When Hawaii's minimum wage is lower than the federal minimum wage, the federal rate applies to covered employees. However, under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, when Hawaii standards are higher than the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requirements, Hawaii's rate governs. Since Hawaii's minimum wage of $10.10 per hour exceeds the federal rate, Hawaii workers are entitled to the state's higher amount. This principle ensures that employees always receive the greater of the two protections. Hawaii employers covered by both state and federal law must comply with whichever standard provides the higher wage. The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations enforces this requirement and can pursue recovery of back wages for employees who were paid below the required minimum.
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 has been increased on a scheduled basis through legislative action by the Hawaii State Legislature. Rather than being tied to an automatic inflation index, the rate was raised step by step through a series of statutory increases over several years, ultimately reaching $10.10 per hour. For 2019, the verified minimum wage in Hawaii is $10.10 per hour. This rate represents the most recent adjustment established by the state. The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations administers the wage law, publishes the current rate schedule, and enforces compliance. Any future changes to the minimum wage would require new legislative action. Employers in Hawaii must ensure they pay at least the current rate to all covered non-exempt employees. Workers who believe they are not receiving the legally required minimum wage should contact the department's Wage Standards Division for assistance.
$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