9. Hawaii — 1.7x local rate typical
Hawaii travel contracts run 1.5 to 1.7 times the resident RN rate on Vivian Health and NALTO-affiliated agency boards. The premium reflects both the cost of housing and the state's persistent difficulty recruiting mainland nurses willing to commit to 13-week contracts on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.
Queen's Health System, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, and Hawaii Pacific Health drive most acute-care contract demand. Rural facilities on the outer islands offer weekly packages toward the top of the state's range, though housing logistics and travel to and from the islands are more complex than mainland contracts.
Hawaii is not an NLC state, so licensure by endorsement requires 4 to 6 weeks of processing. Many travel agencies pre-fund licensure for accepted candidates, offsetting the upfront cost. Nurses who invest in an active Hawaii license during their first contract typically find extension offers and repeat contracts easy to secure.
