Maui County is increasing salaries for its seasonal Summer PALs employees, effective June 1, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen announced on Friday.

The increases are intended to help recruitment and support child care programs serving Maui families, according to Bissen.

“The county’s Summer PALs program provides a critical to many local families,” Bissen said. “By providing essential summer child care, parents are able to continue working while their keiki are out of school. With ongoing staffing challenges within the PALs program, especially in Lahaina and Lanai, it’s imperative that we are doing everything we can to ensure these programs continue to operate.”

The Maui County Council’s proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budget would have increased Summer PALs employee pay as of July 1, but the mayor moved to allow the increases to take effect in the current FY2023 budget to adjust for the scheduled start of the program in June.

Under the new pay schedule, hourly wages will increase as follows:

  • Recreation Aide from $15 to $20 per hour
  • Program Specialist from $19.53 to $26.04 per hour
  • Recreation Leader from $16.74 to $22.32 per hour
  • Recreation Director from $20.93 to $27.91 per hour
  • Office Coordinator from $23.72 to 31.63 per hour
  • Site Coordinator from $23.72 to $31.63 per hour

The salary appropriations for June do not require a budget amendment because the funding is currently available from cost savings in the Summer PALs program budget.

For more information on how to apply for seasonal positions within the Summer PALs program or other County of Maui vacancies, visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/maui.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.