HI SB2291

Increases Hawaii's minimum wage to $12.25 per hour beginning January 1, 2019, and to $15.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2020

Repeals provisions that allowed tipped employees to be paid below the minimum wage if combined tips and wages met specified thresholds

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to calculate an adjusted minimum wage rate annually on September 30, effective the following January 1, using the Honolulu region Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rounded to the nearest five cents

Prohibits minimum wage decreases; if CPI-W adjustment would lower the wage, the rate remains at the most recently established minimum wage level