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Hawaii’s Chief Justice and Legislators Seek Salary Increases

Press Release: Calls for Increased Salaries in Hawaii Judiciary and Legislature

Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald urged the state Salary Commission on Friday to consider increasing judges’ salaries, citing a significant decline in qualified applicants for judicial positions. Recktenwald emphasized that current judge salaries lag considerably behind the lucrative earnings available in private legal practice, noting that Circuit Court judges rank 47th in the nation when adjusted for the high cost of living. The state’s judiciary faces vacancies, including the chief judge position in the Intermediate Court of Appeals, with ongoing recruitment challenges.

House Speaker Nadine Nakamura echoed similar concerns regarding legislative salaries, stating that only around 125 individuals compete for the 51 House seats every two years. She asserted that low pay discourages prospective candidates from running for office, highlighting the need for competitive compensation to encourage public service.

The Salary Commission, chaired by former Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, is currently deliberating potential pay increases for judges and lawmakers. The commission meets every six years and will submit its proposal by the end of the 2025 legislative session. If approved, any salary increases will automatically take effect unless both the House and Senate reject them via resolution.

Hawaii lawmakers currently earn $72,348 annually, increasing to $74,160 in 2025, while the salaries for Senate President and House Speaker will rise to $83,052. Nakamura argued that the role of a legislator is effectively a full-time job, necessitating a review of compensation to attract more potential candidates.

Meanwhile, Governor Josh Green’s administration reported a healthy interest in management positions, with 400 applications received for state department head roles, underscoring varying dynamics in recruitment across state positions. The Salary Commission will reconvene on December 6 for further discussions on state salaries.

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Photo credit www.civilbeat.org

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