Jury Duty Pay in Hawaii

About Jury Duty in Hawaii

Hawaii pays jurors $30 per day, but the state’s isolated island geography creates jury logistics unlike anywhere else in the United States. The state court system operates on each island separately, so most jurors serve within their home island — but federal cases can require inter-island travel.

How Jury Pay Works

Hawaii uses a flat $30/day rate under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 612-8. Mileage reimbursement typically follows the federal GSA rate. Hawaii is a “one day or one trial” state. There is no employer mandate to pay wages. The state’s four major counties (Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai) each operate independent jury systems, and the island geography — unique among states — creates both challenges and efficiencies.

Island Logistics

Hawaii’s island geography fundamentally shapes its jury system. Oahu (Honolulu County) is home to roughly 70% of the state’s population and handles the majority of jury trials. The First Circuit Court in Honolulu is the state’s busiest facility.

For residents of neighbor islands — Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island (Hawaii County) — serving on a federal jury can mean flying to Oahu. The court arranges inter-island travel and sometimes lodging, but the logistics are inherently more complex than in any continental state. For state court cases, jurors serve within their home island, keeping the disruption manageable for most.

The inter-island federal jury issue is unique to Hawaii. No other state requires jurors to fly to reach the courthouse as a routine matter.

Employer Obligations

Hawaii employers are not required to pay wages during jury service but cannot penalize employees. Hawaii’s tourism-dominated economy — hotels, resorts, restaurants, tour operators — means a large percentage of the workforce consists of hourly hospitality workers who rely on the state’s $30/day rate. Major resort operators and the state’s significant military presence provide employer-paid leave for their permanent workforces.

How Hawaii Compares

Hawaii’s $30/day matches Florida and Virginia. The rate is in the middle tier nationally but feels low given Hawaii’s extremely high cost of living — the highest in the country for most consumer goods. A $30/day jury stipend doesn’t cover a day’s expenses in Honolulu. Federal jurors in Hawaii’s single district receive $50/day. The state-federal gap is smaller than in most places, but the absolute rates are both inadequate for Hawaii’s costs. The inter-island travel policy for federal jurors is one practical bright spot.

Statute: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 612-8 — Official source