Going down: Hawaii’s elevator mechanic and inspector shortage
by Jonathan Helton, Grassroot Institute
The state of Hawaii has an elevator problem: There are shortages of both the mechanics who help keep them in working condition and the state inspectors who do annual quality checks.
This presents serious accessibility issues for high-rise residents who find it difficult or impossible to use the stairs. Moreover, the problem is likely to metastasize as homebuilders construct more multi-story residences that require elevators.
The total number of licensed elevator mechanics in Hawaii has remained steady over the past 10 years. But the number of licensed mechanics on the neighbor islands has dropped significantly, and there are zero licensed mechanics on Lanai or Molokai.
The state’s shortage of elevator mechanics creates issues for high-rise repairs and new construction projects.
But the shortfall doesn’t stop there. In 2025, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations stated that 25% of its elevator inspector positions were vacant and that “a majority of its inspectors will retire during the upcoming biennium.”
These vacancies mean inspectors face a significant review backlog that also can delay the opening of new buildings or the reopening of elevators that needed major repairs.
State law requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to “establish criteria for the periodic reinspection and renewal of the permits to operate” elevators, boilers and similar equipment.
It also specifies that no permit to operate can last longer than one year, which means the department is required to inspect and permit all elevators in the state annually. However, that rarely happens.
The shortage of both elevator mechanics and inspectors has presented issues for Hawaii housing projects for years.
In 2015, then-state Rep. Karl Rhodes told KHON2 that “We couldn’t get the elevators inspected when they were building a new building, so that slows down construction something terrible.”
Last year, the state Senate approved a resolution requesting that the Department of Human Resources Development do a study on elevator inspections and recommend policies to increase recruitment and retention of inspectors.
But the department testified that it did not have the operational expertise necessary to write such a report because elevator inspections are handled by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. As a result, no report was ever written.
Also in testimony, National Elevator Industry representative Billy Taylor said staffing shortages have forced the Inspection Branch to adopt “what can best be described as a triage-style approach” that involves prioritizing new construction “with the modernization of elevators and regular inspections in existing buildings addressed as the branch’s work schedule and availability of personnel allows.”
Taylor said this method “has addressed certain challenges in the past,” but he cautioned that “there are signs that the system is nearing the breaking point.”
He continued: “In many cases, elevator contractors are forced to repeatedly mobilize and de-mobilize a work site. These dislocations increase costs, incur delays, inconvenience the public, and increase marginal safety risks.”
The shortages became acutely apparent this year when multiple severe storms caused water damage and power outages that left many apartment tenants without elevators for weeks, according to Honolulu Civil Beat.
So when the state Legislature convenes in January, lawmakers will inherit a worsening crisis with no clear path forward.
Thankfully, there are options that do not require waiting for a state-sponsored study.
To expand the local elevator mechanic workforce, the state could address barriers created by apprenticeship rules — starting with the length of training. Currently, someone must serve as an apprentice for four years before becoming eligible for full licensure.
Further, the state could address the current mechanic-to-apprentice ratio, which limits a licensed mechanic from having more than one apprentice at a time.
The state could also make it easier for licensed mechanics from other states to temporarily work in Hawaii.
State law allows the Elevator Mechanics Licensing Board to issue temporary permits to out-of-state mechanics. According to the rules set by the board, these permits can last for three months or “for the duration of time required to complete the particular job for which the permit was issued, whichever is longer,” and an individual can receive no more than two consecutive temporary permits.
The state could extend the length of time for which these permits are valid.
Lastly, to address the backlog in elevator inspections, the state could consider outsourcing some of its reviews.
More than half of states allow private, third-party inspectors to perform annual inspections. Hawaii considered legislation back in 2001 to set up such a system, but it did not pass.
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