Keiki participate in the Maui County Summer PALs program. The county is increasing salaries in hopes of recruiting more workers for the seasonal program. Maui County photo

The Maui News

Maui County is increasing Summer PALs seasonal employee salaries starting June 1 in hopes of recruiting more workers for the program that offers vital and affordable child care for local families, Mayor Richard Bissen announced Friday.

The Maui County Council’s fiscal year 2024 budget proposal includes higher salaries for Summer PALs seasonal employees that would take effect July 1. But, with the program starting in June, Bissen’s directive will allow for the increases to take effect in the current fiscal year 2023 budget and allow employees to start summer employment in line with the council’s proposed increases for July. Hourly wages will be increased 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.

Bissen said in a news release Friday that the county program is “critical” for many local families.

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

Salary appropriations for June will be applied within the fiscal 2023 budget and do not require a budget amendment because the funding is currently available from cost savings in the Summer PALs budget, the county said.

For more information on how to apply for seasonal positions in the program or other Maui County vacancies, visit www.governmentjobs.com/careers/maui.