by Rep. Elijah Pierick
Recently, the Hawaii Commission on Salaries met to deliberate a highly controversial proposal to raise state lawmakers’ pay by as much as 28% in one year, with some legislators seeing a total increase of 64% over several years.
While some argue that elected officials deserve competitive salaries, I question whether such increases are justified when pressing issues remain unresolved.
Many residents in Hawaii, particularly those in the service industry and among the Filipino community, are struggling to make ends meet.
This raises an important question: Should we really increase the pay of public servants when so many recurring issues are left unaddressed, and when those increases may ultimately raise our taxes?
The proposal has sparked outrage among Hawaii’s working-class residents, many of whom feel their representatives have not delivered the results needed to justify such significant pay raises.
For these residents, the argument for raising legislators’ salaries seems disconnected from their everyday struggles.
Why should public officials like myself—many of whom already benefit from generous pensions and other benefits—see such a dramatic pay increase when critical issues affecting their constituents remain unresolved?
The public has a right to expect that their elected officials focus on addressing these issues before rewarding themselves with such substantial raises.
After all, we are public servants, meant to work for the people—not for our own financial gain.
Under the proposed pay increase, state lawmakers would see their salaries jump by a staggering 64% over time, pushing their annual pay into the six-figure range.
The question becomes: What are the tangible results from lawmakers that justify such a large raise?
As a representative of District 39, which includes Waipahu, Ewa Beach, Ho‘opili, Waikele, and Royal Kunia, I have made my stance clear on this issue.
I cannot, in good conscience, support raising the salaries of elected officials without clear, measurable outcomes that benefit the people of Hawaii.
My concerns reflect the frustrations of many residents who feel that their lawmakers have not done enough to address the needs of their communities, and who are wary of paying higher taxes to fund these increases.
I am committed to serving my community and advocating for the changes that will improve the lives of hard-working Hawaiians, but I believe it’s important that we, as lawmakers, demonstrate tangible results before asking for such significant raises.
For these workers, any tax increase to fund the pay raises of lawmakers would further strain their already limited resources.
As the Commission on Salaries and my colleagues continue to review this proposal, it’s clear that the issue of lawmakers’ pay is not just about numbers—it’s about fairness, accountability, and trust.
Until we see tangible results—until we address the challenges of housing affordability, wasteful spending, and the rising cost of living—I believe many will continue to question whether such dramatic salary increases are justified.
My opposition to this proposal serves as a reminder that we, as elected officials, must prioritize the well-being of our constituents—especially those who are struggling the most—before considering financial rewards for ourselves.
If we are truly committed to representing the people of Hawaii, we must show that we are dedicated to solving the real challenges facing our state—one meaningful step at a time.
Until then, any proposed pay raises will rightly be met with skepticism.
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