Const. Art. XVI, §1
State jobs must be based on merit
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗This section says that people who work in the state civil service must be hired and treated based on merit, not on other factors. It is a basic rule for state employment.
employeesstate agencies
The constitution, as written — Service
A copy, taken August 21, 2026. The version published by the Legislature is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
The employment of persons in the civil service, as defined by law, of or under the State, shall be governed by the merit principle. [Ren Const Con 1978 and election Nov 7, 1978] Cross References Civil service, see chapter 76. Case Notes Hawaii constitution does not establish an independently enforceable right to the protection of merit principles. 85 H. 61, 937 P.2d 397. Where, under §76-77, landfill worker positions were within civil service, and thus governed by merit principles under this section, county violated Hawaii constitution and civil service statutes when it privatized new landfill operation. 85 H. 61, 937 P.2d 397. County's decision to terminate, and thereby privatize, refuse collection services violated constitutional merit principles and civil service laws and deprived civil servants of the protections guaranteed in this section and chapter 76. 137 H. 409, 375 P.3d 188 (2016).
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.