Measure to raise Hawaiʻi’s minimum wage to $18 an hour gets legislative approval

In a big win for low-wage workers, House and Senate lawmakers approved a measure Friday to raise Hawaiʻi’s minimum wage from $10.10 an hour to $18 by 2028.

The Senate version of the bill would have gotten to $18 an hour earlier.

But advocates say they’re happy to have made progress.

“Although the senate didn’t get what they want, this was better than getting nothing at all, which is what has happened the last four years,” said Nate Hix, director of Living Wage Hawaii.

“Working families are going to be getting a huge boost in income, which is well overdue.”