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1186 Analytics
Facts & Figures
84%
OF YOUR INCOME
IS JUST TO LIVE IN HAWAII
NO PURCHASING
POWER
$1/YEAR IN RAISES FOR
LAST 10 YEARS
$3M FINANCIAL
DISCREPANCY
22% DROP IN
MEMBERSHIP
From 2000 to 2025, Hawaii’s cost of living increased far faster than real wages. Housing, food, and utilities now consume approximately 84% of median household income, fundamentally reshaping
economic security for residents. Hawaii’s affordability challenge is structural rather than cyclical.
From 2000 to 2026, Hawaii’s minimum wages have not kept up with inflation reducing real purchasing power. Local 1186 wages similarly have not kept up with inflation.
Behind the Curve: Why Local 1186 Wages have sunk to the bottom of the trades in hourly wages
Click text to link to Hawaii News Now
The Biggest Membership Drop in Years: What’s Happening at Local 1186 with a 22% drop in members in the last 10 years
Did You Know...
The Wage Gap Local 1186 Can't Ignore
Did You Know...
Despite rising nominal wages, real purchasing power declined by approximately 8–10% over the period. Inflation, led by housing and energy costs, consistently outpaced wage growth.
​
Rent is the dominant cost driver in Hawaii. Since 2000, rents rose over 200% nominally and nearly
doubled in real terms, pushing typical households well beyond affordability benchmarks.
Grocery prices increased roughly 35% in real terms, driven by Hawaii’s reliance on imported food,fuel-sensitive shipping costs, and limited price competition.
Electricity costs in Hawaii are consistently the highest in the nation, rising nearly 185% since 2000. While rooftop solar has benefited homeowners, renters continue to absorb the full burden of energy inflation.
This report summarizes the historical changes in Hawaii’s cost of living from 2000 to 2025, with a focus on inflation-adjusted wages and the core household expenses of rent, groceries, and utilities. Data is synthesized from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Honolulu CPI), Hawaii DBEDT, HUD, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Real
Median
Income
Real Median Rent (2 Bdrm)
Real Grocery Cost (4 ppl)
Real Median Utilities
Loss of Purchasing Power
Key Takeaways
• From 2000 through roughly 2018, Hawaii’s minimum wage mostly tracked inflation rather than increasing real purchasing power.
• The period from 2020 to 2021 represents a real decline due to inflation with no nominal increases.
• The post-2022 increases mark the first sustained rise above historical real wage levels.
• The 2026 minimum wage of $16.00 represents the highest real minimum wage in Hawaii’s modern history.
FY 2024 BUDGET SPENDING
$9.5M / 80.5%
Record Number of Members Exit
as Questions Rise
Local 1186 is facing a serious wake‑up call as more than 300 members from one of the union’s largest companies have left, marking one of the biggest membership drops in recent years. This decline has raised urgent questions about stability, leadership, and the direction of the union moving forward. Members are now calling for stronger representation, clearer communication, and a renewed focus on keeping Local 1186 strong.
Where's Your Money?
A Missing $3M Sparks Big Questions for Local 1186
Local 1186 members are sounding the alarm after discovering nearly $3 million in unaccounted‑for pension fund discrepancies. The lack of clear answers has fueled frustration and intensified calls for full transparency and accountability from those responsible for safeguarding members’ retirement security. This growing concern has become a rallying point for members demanding honest leadership and stronger financial oversight.
A Union in Decline
Record Number of Members Exit
as Questions Rise
Local 1186 is facing a serious wake‑up call as more than 300 members from one of the union’s largest companies have left, marking one of the biggest membership drops in recent years.
​
Local 1186 has experienced a clear decline in membership over the past decade, dropping from over 3,600 members in 2016–2018 to about 2,832 members in 2024—a decrease of roughly 20–22% overall.