Honolulu Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Hawaii · SSA Region 09
Approval Rate
69.8%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
287 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
1,121
awaiting hearing
ALJs
5
active judges
Honolulu ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics
Individual judge statistics for 12 months ending July 2026. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.
| Judge | Approval Rate | Denial Rate | Fully Favorable | Total Decisions | Dispositions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce T Cooper | 86.4% | 13.6% | 71.2% | 59 | 69 |
| Ruxana Meyer | 72.5% | 27.5% | 56.7% | 436 | 513 |
| Mark Yasutomi | 70.5% | 29.5% | 49.6% | 129 | 157 |
| Michael Cabotaje | 57.6% | 42.4% | 42.4% | 85 | 91 |
| Jessica Inouye | 46.6% | 53.4% | 28.6% | 133 | 149 |
Former Judges at Honolulu
This judge has no recorded decisions at Honolulu in the 12 months ending July 2026. Figures below cover each judge's own last twelve reported months, ending in the month shown.
| Judge | Last Decisions Reported | Approval Rate | Total Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey Hatfield | March 2025 | 87.1% | 319 |
Approval rates here cover each judge's own trailing window ending in the month shown, so they are not directly comparable with the current roster above or with national figures.
About the Honolulu Social Security Hearing Office
Honolulu is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in Hawaii. Operating within SSA Region 09, the office has 5 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 69.8%, which is above the national average of 57.6%. Several factors may contribute to this rate, including the types of cases filed in this region and the level of legal representation at hearings. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 46.6% to 86.4%, a 40-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 8 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8.4 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 287 days. There are currently 1,121 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 224 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 49.7%. A fully favorable decision means the claimant receives benefits from the onset date they requested, as opposed to a partially favorable decision which may award benefits from a later date.
How to Interpret Honolulu Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Honolulu, thorough case preparation is especially important. Since judge assignments are rotational, the specific ALJ assigned to a case is not known in advance — ensuring medical evidence and vocational documentation are comprehensive can help regardless of which judge presides.
With an average wait time of 8 months and 287 days average processing time, claimants at Honolulu can expect a total timeline of roughly 18 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Honolulu have collectively issued 842 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 168 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 59 to 436 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Honolulu Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Honolulu?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 46.6% to 86.4%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 49.7%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Honolulu?
How long is the wait time at Honolulu?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 18 months. These wait time figures represent the latest available snapshot and may fluctuate as hearing volumes and judge availability change over time.
How is office data calculated?
What is the fully favorable rate at Honolulu?
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