City managers in Hawaii serve communities operating under the council-manager form of government, where the elected council sets policy and the appointed manager handles administration and operations. Not all Hawaii cities use this structure — some operate under mayor-council or commission forms of government where executive and administrative duties are distributed differently.
Residents of Hawaii who want to understand how their city is structured should review the city charter, which defines whether the city operates under a mayor-council, council-manager, or another form of government, and what powers are vested in the city manager's office versus elected officials.
Professionals interested in local government administration careers in Hawaii can find information on municipal job openings, civil service requirements, and city manager internship programs through the Hawaii City Managers Association and individual city human resources departments.