What Will The New Minimum Wage Mean For Hawaii’s Farmers? …Finding workers is hard in Hawaii, so many farms pay extra, but lifting the benchmark to $18 could present a new set of problems for farmers.
With Hawaii’s minimum wage now all but set to lift to $18 by 2028, agriculture industry groups are concerned that they will have to absorb the extra cost of skilled labor — if they can even find the workers they need.
It comes as Hawaii’s farmers are facing increased costs for farm supplies like fertilizer, competition with imported food and supply chain issues.
The bill to raise the minimum wage passed through conference committee on Friday, lifting it from $10.10 to $12 in October, then gradually to $18 over the next six years. It awaits a final vote Tuesday by the House and Senate and then the governor’s approval.
