She also runs a small online business to supplement her income.
Most Projected Job Openings Fall Below Living Wages
MIT’s updated estimate for 2026 is approximately $64,500.
Steven Bond-Smith, a researcher with the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, pointed out that the state features a smaller share of workers in traditionally higher-paying occupations. Management accounts for 6.9% of Hawaii’s jobs compared with 7.2% nationally, and business and finance roles make up 4.8% compared with 6.8% nationwide.
Visitor Spending Declines Despite Increased Arrivals
The state’s heavy reliance on tourism and the military leaves fewer avenues for growth in other sectors. Even as tourism drives economic activity, visitor spending patterns have shifted dramatically over the decades.
That means each visitor now spends roughly one-third less per trip than in 1989, according to Bond-Smith. Serving more visitors without a comparable increase in revenue leaves less room for overall wage growth across the hospitality industry.
At the same time, living costs remain punishingly high. Fewer than 1 in 4 Hawaii households can afford a mortgage on a single-family home.
Financial Pressures Drive Resident Departures from Hawaii
These financial pressures have directly influenced migration patterns. Departures are particularly pronounced among younger residents between ages 18 and 24 who leave for college or first jobs.
Income growth has failed to keep pace with the rest of the country. Hawaii’s income per person stood at 30% above the national average in 1970 and 17% above it in 1980. By 2025, it was roughly equal to the national average, at about $77,000.
For workers like Gabot, retirement remains an elusive milestone. When she first started housekeeping in 1988, she cleaned as many as 16 rooms during an eight-hour shift before workers pushed for workload reductions, and the daily requirement dropped to 14 rooms. Now 68, she continues to work because Social Security benefits are insufficient to cover her expenses, and her pension is not enough to cover her bills.
“Even though you have a high salary, if (prices) keep going up, it’s really not enough,” Gabot said.
