Hawaii Business Magazine has released its annual Best Places to Work survey results for 2026, identifying 91 employers across the state for their exceptional workplace environments and employee satisfaction.

The 2026 "Best Places to Work" list for Hawaii highlights a continued shift in workplace expectations, revealing employees prioritize flexibility, meaningful work, strong leadership, and competitive compensation. This annual list serves as a key benchmark for organizational health and employee engagement, providing companies a competitive advantage in talent acquisition and retention by signaling a commitment to a positive and supportive culture.

What We Know So Far

  • Hawaii Business Magazine’s 2026 issue features 91 employers recognized as a Best Place to Work, according to the publication.
  • The survey results are heavily weighted toward employee sentiment, with 80% of a company's score based on anonymous employee feedback, as reported by Hawaii News Now.
  • Consulting firm Bowers + Kubota has been honored on the annual list 19 times and has been named the best large company winner every year since 2022.
  • Island Insurance marked a significant milestone, appearing on the Hawaiʻi’s Best Places to Work list for 20 consecutive years.
  • While employees reported high satisfaction with their job roles and organizational leadership, work-life balance scored the lowest among all benchmark measures in the survey.
  • To support professional development, the first-ever Best Places to Work Training Day will be held on April 23 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.

Key Trends in Hawaii's 2026 Best Workplaces Survey

Hawaii Business Magazine's 2026 "Best Places to Work" survey provides a data-driven snapshot of the modern workplace, reflecting evolving employee priorities. Expectations extend beyond salary to include flexibility, meaningful engagement, and robust organizational support. The data indicates successful companies foster a strong sense of purpose and trust in leadership.

Analysis of employee feedback reveals specific areas of high satisfaction. The two statements employees agreed with most strongly were, 'I like what I do for this organization' and 'I believe in this organization’s leadership'. This suggests that a clear mission and visible, trusted leaders are critical components of a positive work environment. One of the most consistent trends identified in the report was the quality of direct supervision. "One of the strongest trends we’re seeing across Hawaiʻi-based organizations, across sectors, across islands, is that employees feel like they have a really great relationship with their direct supervisor," the magazine noted.