Hawaii Minimum Wage - Information On Oahu Hawaii

Minimum Wage is an important issue for many who live in a place like Hawaii where the cost of living can be much higher than many other areas in the United States (and other countries), see Hawaii Living: The Paradise Tax for more on that.

In 2014 minimum wage was $7.25 per hour

In 2015 minimum wage is $7.75 per hour

In 2016 minimum wage will be $8.50 per hour

In 2017 minimum wage will be $9.25 per hour

In 2018 minimum wage will be $10.10 per hour

So, it won't be until 2018 that Hawaii is caught up to Obama's push for the $10.10 per hour minimum wage, at which point that amount will still not be updated to reflect inflation. Add in the high cost of living in Hawaii and it's easy to see why so many struggle to live here and end up working multiple jobs just to survive while living below the poverty line.

Tip Credit

Under certain conditions, employers may pay tipped employees below the applicable minimum wage by using tip credit. Meaning, if you're an employee who gets tips you may only be working for a few dollars per hour and thus relying heavily on your tips.

Keep that in mind next time you're at a place where the servers are counting on tips. For more on that subject, be sure to read Tipping.

Overtime

Generally, overtime pay is required after 40 hours worked in a workweek. While many workers would love overtime pay, counting on it is quite the gamble as many employers no longer offer it due to the high costs. It's often cheaper for an employer to hire more part time workers than fewer full time or overtime workers.

More information and details can be found at the Wage Standards Division on the Hawaii.gov website.