Welcome to the Hawaii Guide!

Hawaii is a US state with about 9.6 million visitors in 2025, hotel work all year and the second-highest prices of any US state (2024). It suits people who already have US work rights. For others the routes are few: a traineeship, or a manager post for a few passports.

Who hires

About one job in five is in hotels, restaurants and leisure (September 2026). The state had 151 hotels with about 44,800 rooms in 2025, 62% of them on Oahu, mostly in Waikiki and Honolulu. Most of the rest are on Maui, Hawaii Island and Kauai. Government, shops, transport, healthcare and construction are the other large employers, but most of these jobs have no work visa.

When hiring happens

In 2025 the busiest months were July, March and December, and the quietest was September. Job numbers in hotels, restaurants and leisure changed by less than 2% during the year, so there is no single hiring season.

Where you live and what it costs

Staff housing is not usual, so most staff rent. The median rent for homes of all sizes was USD 2,083 a month on Oahu and USD 1,510 on Hawaii Island (2024). Crowd-reported prices (November 2026) put a cheap restaurant meal in Honolulu at about USD 28. A monthly bus and rail pass on Oahu costs USD 90. The minimum wage is USD 16.00 an hour in 2026. Tipped staff can be paid USD 14.75 if tips bring the total to USD 23.00.

Daily life

English and Hawaiian are the official languages. You must be 21 to buy alcohol or tobacco. In 2025 Hawaii Island had 43% fewer doctors than it needs and Maui County 41%, against 15% on Oahu. Strong currents can make any beach unsafe, especially in winter, so ask a lifeguard.

Getting there and around

The main airport is Honolulu, on Oahu. Most flights come from the US mainland. Direct international flights come from Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and some Pacific islands. Between islands you fly. On Oahu a bus runs from the airport to Waikiki every 10 to 30 minutes for about USD 3.

What to watch for

• Line jobs in hotels are practically closed to people without US work rights.
• Housing costs are the highest in the United States. In 2025 about one home in five on Kauai and one in seven in Maui County was rented to visitors. The 2023 Lahaina fire on Maui destroyed more than 5,500 homes, and few were rebuilt by early 2026.
• The hurricane season is June to November.
• Read your own government's travel advice for Hawaii before you travel.

Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa.

Before you apply

Below this guide, "Can I work in Hawaii?" gives the answer for your passport, and "What the job usually comes with" covers housing, meals, flights and leave.

Can I work in Hawaii?

Pick your passport to see your answer.

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Never pay anyone for a visa or a job offer. A real employer pays the permit costs and never asks you for money.

How it works

How it works: No ordinary visa for hotel jobs; a J-1 traineeship of up to 12 months is the realistic route.

Official source: USCIS: working in the United States. Checked November 2026.

What the job usually comes with in Hawaii

Usual for Hawaii, varies by employer. Checked November 2026.

Housing	Usually not; rents very high
Meals	Staff cafeteria at large resorts
Flights	None (managers negotiate)
Service charge	F&B service charges go to staff unless guests are told otherwise (by law)
Contract	At will; union rules in Waikiki
Leave	None by law; employer health insurance (by law)
Income tax	Federal 10% to 37% plus state 1.4% to 11%

Senior staff often get more than line staff, for example a single room or a yearly home flight. Ask the employer what the job includes before you accept.