Hawaiʻi’s workers need living wages
The Hawaiʻi legislature will soon decide on two minimum wage bills, SB789 SD2 and HB1191 HD1. These bills will gradually increase Hawaiʻi’s minimum wage from the present $10.10 an hour to a more livable one of $15 an hour by 2023 for SB789 and 2024 for HB1191.
Organizations like Raise Up Hawaiʻi and Living Wage Hawaiʻi, women’s groups, unions and social service organizations like Catholic Charities have shown solid support. Both the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Platform and the National Democratic Party call for a minimum wage of $15 an hour.
These bills should be supported, but with amendments that reflect Hawaiʻi’s high cost of living. Both should have a $17 minimum wage, but for HB1191, firms that offer insurance should pay their employees at least $14 an hour. This was in the original language in HB1191.
