Kawashima v. State, Department of Education.

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

RECKTENWALD, C.J.

I. Introduction

This is a consolidated case involving substitute and part-time temporary teachers who were employed by the State of Hawai'i, Department of Education (“State” or “DOE”), and who claim they were underpaid by the State.

Plaintiffs in the Garner case include more than 8,000 substitute teachers (collectively “Garner Plaintiffs” or “substitute teachers”) who were paid on a per diem basis. Approximately half of the substitute teachers in Garner also worked in a part-time capacity for which they were paid hourly wages.

During a prior interlocutory…