A bonding pad for an electrode is in contact with p-type gallium nitride-based semiconductor material that includes aluminum. The bonding pad may also includes one or more metals selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, nickel and gold. The bonding pad can be used to attach a bonding wire to the p-electrode in a semiconductor device, such as a light-emitting diode or a laser diode without causing degradation of the light-transmission and ohmic properties of the electrode. The bonding pad may be formed of substantially the same material as an electrode in making an ohmic contact with n-type gallium nitride-based semiconductor material (n-electrode). This allows the bonding pad and the n-electrode to be formed simultaneously when manufacturing a gallium nitride-based light-emitting device which substantially reduces the cost to manufacture the device.