Andrew L. Pepper 6/23/22 Andrew L. Pepper 6/23/22

Hawaiʻi becomes first state to enact $18 minimum wage

Although, given HB 2510’s nearly six-year phase-in period, other states may reach that mark first, Hawaiʻi nevertheless becomes the first state to officially enact an $18 minimum wage.

Guthrie Scrimgeour 6/23/22 Guthrie Scrimgeour 6/23/22

Ige signs $18 minimum wage increase, tax refund

Hawai‘i’s minimum wage is currently $10.10 an hour. The new law raises the rate in increments over the next several years, starting with $12 on Oct. 1.

Sabrina Bodon 6/22/22 Sabrina Bodon 6/22/22

Gov. Ige signs $18 minimum wage increase by 2028, tax refund

Gov. David Ige on Wednesday signed legislation raising the state's minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2028.

Krista Rados 6/22/22 Krista Rados 6/22/22

Governor approves $300 tax refunds, signs law raising minimum wage to $18

Ige said that this “balanced approach” will begin in increments, starting by raising the minimum wage from $10.10 an hour to $12 in October.

Chris Marr 6/22/22 Chris Marr 6/22/22

Hawaiʻi governor signs $18 minimum wage law, first of its kind

Hawaiʻi enacted the nation’s first statewide $18 minimum wage law, with Gov. David Ige’s signature of a bill aimed at fighting poverty among the islands’ workers.

Rev. Sam Domingo 6/14/22 Rev. Sam Domingo 6/14/22

Sign minimum wage increase immediately

Don’t make our lowest-wage earners wait and wonder any longer. They need and deserve this modest raise.

Andrew Gomes and Dan Nakaso 5/8/22 Andrew Gomes and Dan Nakaso 5/8/22

Reflections on Hawaiʻi’s ‘historic’ legislative session shine bright

It’s only 60 days long, but Hawaiʻi’s legislative session this year was a monumental affair featuring some self-reform, historic spending and a return to in-person public participation, all largely in the wake of a bribery scandal, a budget deficit and peak coronavirus infections.

Nate Hix 4/10/22 Nate Hix 4/10/22

Don’t let House gut the minimum wage bill

Working families and our economy have been suffering for decades with wages that fail to come close to a livable standard. Fortunately both chambers are finally acting like this deficit needs to be closed. We need them to stand by their promises to workers and our economy, and finally push this bill over the finish line and on to the governor’s desk.

Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 4/9/22 Star-Advertiser Editorial Board 4/9/22

Editorial: Help for Hawaiʻi households

For too many families living in Hawaiʻi, the answer to, “How’re you doing?” is, “Just hanging on.”

Tyler Dos Santos-Tam 12/28/21 Tyler Dos Santos-Tam 12/28/21

Hawaiʻi Democrats must raise minimum wage

All Hawaiʻi workers should be able to make ends meet with one job, and it’s our legislature’s responsibility to make that a reality.

Bill Dorman 12/15/21 Bill Dorman 12/15/21

Minimum wage has stayed at $10.10 for 4 years. With high inflation, will lawmakers make any changes?

The latest state data show a single adult would need to make about $17 to $18 an hour at a full-time job to afford to live in Hawaiʻi.

Stewart Yerton 4/7/21 Stewart Yerton 4/7/21

Dark clouds are looming over Hawaiʻi even as the economy appears to be improving

Economic experts say many people are worse off than they were before the pandemic and a lower unemployment rate is simply masking deeper problems.