by Gary Hooser
Given the current instability surrounding future federal funding of public schools, parks, university, medical services, and other vital programs, it’s completely inappropriate for Hawaii legislators to accept the generous 35% to 48% pay raises proposed by the Salary Commission.
Each rank-and-file state legislator presently receives a $74,160 salary for the honor of serving as a part-time public servant. Legislators work only five months per year on a full-time basis, and as much (or as little) as they choose during the other seven months of the year.
Per the US Census’ American Community Survey, the median salary for full-time workers in Hawaii is $60,680. Other data sources report similar figures.
So, half of Hawaii’s full-time workers earn $60,580 or less, while part-time legislators now earn $74,160, AND they’ll be getting raises of 35% to 48% – unless they take action now and vote to reject that raise.
Legislators may also collect a state retirement pension after only 10 years of service, and Neighbor Island legislators are paid an additional $225 per day during the four months of session; they’re not required to show actual expense receipts for this generous per diem allowance.
The decision to reject these pay raises would also prohibit the Governor’s office and Judiciary branch from receiving their pay increases recommended by the same Salary Commission.
It goes without saying that legislators, judges, and government executives should not be doing this work with expectations of big salaries. This work, after all, is public service.
Our legislature is faced with a decision: Either do nothing – thereby accepting the Salary Commission’s recommended pay raises without a vote – or “put the issue on the table,” which will mean holding public hearings and a public vote.
All indications point to the path of least resistance. They’ll likely keep their heads down and not hold any hearings or take any votes.
If pressed today on this matter, most legislators will point to the short time remaining in the legislative session. “It’s too late!” they’ll claim. “We don’t have time for the hearings necessary to reject the pay raises.”
Here’s the truth: Legislative rules could be waived, hearings could be held, and the session could be extended if needed.
Obviously, legislative leadership wants to avoid a public vote on this.
Why? Because a public hearing would overflow with furious residents asking angry questions and demanding justification.
To be clear, there’s never a good time for politicians to give themselves a pay raise, either directly or indirectly.
But it’s hard to imagine a worse time than NOW.
President Trump and DOGE have been slashing and burning through almost every federal program on the books. Federal dollars that poured into Hawaii’s public programs are being drastically reduced.
We have an affordable housing crisis. We have families begging for help with school lunches and affordable early childhood programs.
Of course, the legislature could step up to the plate. They could actually begin working full-time, 12 months per year, and forgo their lucrative outside jobs. They could do any number of things to demonstrate the extra work they’d do to earn those raises – but so far, they haven’t.
No, it’s definitely not a good time to be giving yourself a raise.
Failing to hold a hearing, to have a public discussion, and to publicly vote on the issue does NOT give you cover to say, “But I didn’t actually give myself a raise.”
Please don’t insult us. We know how these things work.
GARY HOOSER is a former Hawaiʻi State Senator and Majority Leader.
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