2025 Hawaii Minimum Wage
The 2025 Hawaii Minimum Wage is $14.
Effective 2025-01-01Source: Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/22) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)Verified 2026-08-31
Compared with 2024
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2024.
| Item | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $14 | $14 | +$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 is $14.00 per hour for 2025. This rate took effect on January 1, 2024 and remains in effect through December 31, 2025.
Common questions
- Is there a tip credit?
- Yes. Under certain conditions, tipped employees may be paid less per hour than the standard minimum wage. See Section 387-2(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, for details.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
In Hawaii, the minimum wage is $14 per hour, but certain workers may legally be paid less. The state's Wage and Hour Law allows a tip credit for tipped employees: under certain conditions, employers may pay tipped employees up to $1.25 less per hour than the standard rate. This means the cash wage for a tipped worker can be lower than $14 per hour, as long as the requirements are met. The tip credit amounts are scheduled in Section 387-2(b) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes and have increased over time, from 75 cents to $1.25 per hour. The notice does not reference subminimum wages for minors, students, or trainees. Workers in Hawaii who believe they are being paid below the legal minimum should contact the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, which may recover back wages for underpaid employees through administrative or court action.
TIP CREDIT - Under certain conditions, "tipped employees" may be paid up to 75 cents less per hour; effective October 1, 2022, up to $1.00 less per hour; effective January 1, 2024, up to $1.25 less per hour; and effective January 1, 2028, up to $1.50 less per hour.
Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/22) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is responsible for enforcing the state's Wage and Hour Law. If an employer in Hawaii has underpaid a worker, the department may recover the unpaid back wages through administrative proceedings or by filing a court action. Employees who believe they have not received the full $14 per hour minimum wage for 2025 can contact the nearest Department of Labor office. Offices are located on Oahu in Honolulu, on Kauai in Lihue, on Maui in Wailuku, in Hilo on the Island of Hawaii, and in Kealakekua for West Hawaii. Workers in Hawaii should reach out to the office nearest them to file a complaint or ask questions about their pay.
ENFORCEMENT: The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations may recover back wages, either administratively or through court action, for employees who have been underpaid. FOR MORE INFORMATION contact the nearest Department of Labor office:
Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/22) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)
State minimum wage laws that give more than the federal rate
When both the State of Hawaii and the federal government set a minimum wage, the higher rate applies to workers in Hawaii. The Hawaii Wage and Hour Law explicitly states that its minimum wage covers employment that is also subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act whenever the Hawaii standards are higher than the federal law. For 2025, the Hawaii minimum wage is $14 per hour, which exceeds the federal floor, so workers in Hawaii are entitled to the state rate. Employers in Hawaii must follow whichever law — state or federal — provides the greater protection to the employee. This means that even if the federal rate were to rise above the Hawaii rate in the future, the higher of the two would govern.
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. 06/22) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)
When tips, meals or lodging count toward the minimum wage
Hawaii allows a tip credit under its Wage and Hour Law. In 2025, when an employee regularly receives tips, the employer may pay up to $1.25 less per hour than the standard minimum wage of $14 per hour. The employer must meet certain conditions to claim this credit, and the provisions are set out in Section 387-2(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes. Workers in Hawaii who rely on tips should confirm with their employer that the tip credit rules are being followed. The tip credit amount is scheduled to change again on January 1, 2028, when it will increase to up to $1.50 less per hour. This credit applies only to employees who qualify as "tipped employees" under the state law.
TIP CREDIT - Under certain conditions, "tipped employees" may be paid up to 75 cents less per hour; effective October 1, 2022, up to $1.00 less per hour; effective January 1, 2024, up to $1.25 less per hour; and effective January 1, 2028, up to $1.50 less per hour.
Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/22) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)
Why the federal rate applies when the state rate is lower
In Hawaii, the state minimum wage of $14 per hour applies when it is higher than the federal minimum wage. The Hawaii Wage and Hour Law explicitly states that its requirements cover employment also subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act when Hawaii's standards provide greater protection. This means that for 2025, workers in Hawaii are entitled to the state rate of $14 per hour because it exceeds the federal floor. If the federal rate were ever to rise above Hawaii's rate, the federal standard would apply instead. Employers in Hawaii must comply with whichever law—state or federal—provides the higher wage to employees. This principle ensures that workers always receive the maximum protection available under either level of government.
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. 06/22) (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 set by statute and increases on a scheduled basis. The Hawaii Wage and Hour Law establishes specific wage rates for defined periods: $14.00 per hour effective January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025; $16.00 per hour effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027; and $18.00 per hour effective January 1, 2028. These increases are built into the law rather than being tied to annual inflation adjustments. The rate changes automatically on the effective dates specified in the statute. Employers and employees in Hawaii should be aware of these scheduled increases to ensure compliance. The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations enforces these wage requirements and can provide information about current and future rates.
$14.00 per hour effective January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025 $16.00 per hour effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 $18.00 per hour effective January 1, 2028
Notice to Employees Under the Hawaii Wage and Hour Law, HWHL-1 (Rev. 06/22) (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. 06/22) (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division)
- Hourly
$14.00 per hour effective January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025
Other years
Every Hawaii Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state