Healthcare Resource
Healthcare Recruiting in Hawaii 2026: Top Employers, Pay, and Salary
In brief
Guide to healthcare recruiting in Hawaii: Honolulu, Maui, Hilo, and Kauai. Highest nominal salaries with extreme cost of living offset. Non-compact state; outer island CRNA and NP shortages.
In this article
Hawaii offers some of the highest nominal healthcare salaries in the nation, but the state's extreme cost of living (median home price $1.4M+ on Oahu, $1.2M+ on Maui) significantly reduces real purchasing power. Hawaii is not an NLC compact member, so all traveling healthcare workers must obtain Hawaii-specific licenses, plan 12-18 weeks for RN+APRN endorsements. Outer islands (Maui, Big Island, Kauai) have severe provider shortages that generate the state's most competitive packages.
Top Healthcare Employers in Hawaii (2026)
| System | HQ | Employees | Hiring Focus 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen's Health Systems | Honolulu | 7,000+ | All specialties; Level I trauma; academic affiliation |
| Kaiser Permanente Hawaii | Honolulu | 4,000+ | Primary care, subspecialties, nursing |
| Maui Health (CommonSpirit) | Wailuku | 1,800+ | All disciplines; CRNA/NP shortage; housing assistance |
| Hawaii Health Systems (HHSC) | Statewide | 3,000+ | Outer island facilities; all primary care disciplines |
| Kapiolani Medical Center | Honolulu | 2,000+ | Pediatrics, OB/GYN, women's health |
| Hilo Medical Center | Hilo | 1,000+ | Primary care, surgery, nursing; Big Island |
Hawaii Salary Benchmarks (2026)
| Role | Median Base | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,000 | Outer island NPs often get housing |
| RN (ICU) | $100,000 | COL-adjusted is more moderate |
| CRNA | $248,000 | Outer island CRNA: + housing assistance |
Where the Demand Is Highest
Honolulu / Oahu: Queen's, Kaiser, Straub dominate. Highest COL in the state. Most competitive CRNA market.
Maui: Fastest-growing recruitment challenge, Maui Health persistently short of CRNAs and NPs. Housing assistance common.
Big Island (Hilo / Kona): Lower COL than Oahu/Maui. Persistent primary care and emergency medicine gaps.
Kauai / Molokai / Lanai: Most acute shortages of any Hawaii market. Packages often include housing; positions unfilled for months.
Licensing Notes
- Hawaii Board of Nursing: Non-compact, RN endorsement 6-10 weeks; APRN additional 6-8 weeks
- NP/CRNA practice: Reduced practice, collaborative agreement required
- Plan 12-18 weeks from application to clinical start for out-of-state APRNs
Use Ava Health's public market tools to research Hawaii's nursing and allied health workforce.
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