Honolulu Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Hawaii · SSA Region 09
Approval Rate
68.6%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
277 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
558
awaiting hearing
ALJs
7
active judges
Honolulu ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics
Individual judge statistics for FY 2025. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.
| Judge | Approval Rate | Denial Rate | Fully Favorable | Total Decisions | Dispositions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yasmin Elias | 100% | N/A | 100% | 1 | 2 |
| Mark Yasutomi | 100% | N/A | 100% | 2 | 3 |
| Jeffrey Hatfield | 78.5% | 21.5% | 74.4% | 121 | 146 |
| Ruxana Meyer | 67.5% | 32.5% | 51.1% | 425 | 522 |
| Marti Kirby | 64.7% | 35.3% | 52.9% | 17 | 17 |
| Michael A Cabotaje | 60% | 40% | 49.2% | 65 | 75 |
| David Romeo | 52.2% | 47.8% | 43.5% | 46 | 46 |
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 7 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 68.6%, which is above the national average of 58.3%. 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 52.2% to 100%, a 48-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 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 277 days. There are currently 558 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 80 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 67.3%. 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 277 days average processing time, claimants at Honolulu can expect a total timeline of roughly 17 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Honolulu have collectively issued 677 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 97 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 1 to 425 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 52.2% to 100%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 67.3%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
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 17 months. These wait time figures represent the latest available snapshot and may fluctuate as hearing volumes and judge availability change over time.