Key takeaway: Hawaiʻi’s minimum wage is $16 an hour since January 1, 2026, and rises to $18 on January 1, 2028 (HRS §387-2). The same rate applies on every island. Numbers checked October 30, 2026.
The schedule
| Effective | Minimum wage | Tip credit | Lowest cash wage for tipped workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2022 | $12.00 | $1.00 | $11.00 |
| Jan 1, 2024 | $14.00 | $1.25 | $12.75 |
| Jan 1, 2026 | $16.00 | $1.25 | $14.75 |
| Jan 1, 2028 | $18.00 | $1.50 | $16.50 |
Source: HRS §387-2; Hawaiʻi DLIR; Office of the Governor.
Employers can only take the tip credit if a worker’s wages plus tips come to at least $7 more than the minimum wage, which is $23 an hour in 2026 (HRS §387-2). You’ll still see the 2026 tip credit listed as $1.50 online. It stays $1.25 until 2028.
What $16 an hour covers
Full time, $16 an hour is about $33,280 a year. The state’s own bare-bones budget for a single adult, with no savings, ranges from $41,893 on Hawaiʻi Island to $49,073 on Kauaʻi (DBEDT Self-Sufficiency Income Standard, 2024). That’s $19.84 to $23.24 an hour. See how much you need to make.