(a) Upon retirement from service, a member shall receive a maximum retirement allowance as provided in this section.
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Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 88-74

  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • compensation: as used in this part means:
    (A) Normal periodic payments of money for service the right to which accrues on a regular basis in proportion to the service performed;
    (B) Overtime, differentials, and supplementary payments;
    (C) Bonuses and lump sum salary supplements;
    (D) Elective salary reduction contributions under sections 125, 403(b), and 457(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and
    (E) Retroactive payments of those purposes and nature authorized in subparagraphs (A) through (D), and certified as compensation pursuant to section 88-64;
    (2) Bonuses and lump sum salary supplements shall be deemed earned when payable; provided that bonuses or lump sum salary supplements in excess of one-twelfth of compensation for the twelve months before the month in which the bonus or lump sum salary supplement is payable, exclusive of overtime, bonuses, and lump sum salary supplements, shall be deemed earned:
    (A) During the period agreed-upon by the employer and employee, but in any event over a period of no less than twelvemonths; or
    (B) In the absence of an agreement between the employer and the employee, over the twelvemonths before the date on which the bonus or lump sum salary supplement is payable; and
    (3) Retroactive payments shall be deemed earned when it would have been earned, as determined by the system pursuant to section 88-64. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 88-21.5
  • Emergency medical technician: means a person regularly employed by the city and county of Honolulu's emergency services department whose principal duty is to provide emergency medical services and who is licensed to provide emergency medical services. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 88-21
  • Legislative officer: means a chief clerk, an assistant chief clerk, a sergeant at arms, or an assistant sergeant at arms of either house of the legislature. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 88-21
  • month: means a calendar month; and the word "year" a calendar year. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 1-20
  • Sewer worker: means an employee of any county who is employed in any of the following classifications or classifications performing substantially the same work under classification titles not listed in this definition:

    (1) Sewer maintenance helper or wastewater collection system helper;
    (2) Sewer maintenance repairer or wastewater collection system repairer;
    (3) Sewer maintenance working supervisor;
    (4) Sewer maintenance supervisor I or II or wastewater collection system supervisor I or II;
    (5) Wastewater collection system inspection supervisor;
    (6) Wastewater collection system district supervisor;
    (7) Wastewater collection system field services supervisor;
    (8) Gas detector;
    (9) Gas detector helper;
    (10) Gas detection supervisor;
    (11) Cesspool worker;
    (12) Cesspool pumping equipment operator I or II;
    (13) Cesspool pumping supervisor; or

    in any combination of these classifications. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 88-21

(b) If a member, who became a member before July 1, 2012, has attained age fifty-five, the member’s maximum retirement allowance shall be two per cent of the member’s average final compensation multiplied by the total number of years of the member’s credited service as a class A and class B member, excluding any credited service as a judge, elective officer, or legislative officer, plus a retirement allowance of one and one-fourth per cent of the member’s average final compensation multiplied by the total number of years of prior credited service as a class C member, plus a retirement allowance of two per cent of the member’s average final compensation multiplied by the total number of years of prior credited service as a class H member; provided that:

(1) After June 30, 1968, if the member has at least ten years of credited service of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service as a firefighter, police officer, or an investigator of the department of the prosecuting attorney;
(2) After June 30, 1977, if the member has at least ten years of credited service of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service as a corrections officer;
(3) After June 16, 1981, if the member has at least ten years of credited service of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service as an investigator of the department of the attorney general;
(4) After June 30, 1989, if the member has at least ten years of credited service of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service as a narcotics enforcement investigator;
(5) After December 31, 1993, if the member has at least ten years of credited service of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service as a water safety officer;
(6) After June 30, 1994, if the member has at least ten years of credited service, of which the last five or more years prior to retirement are credited service as a law enforcement investigations staff investigator;
(7) After June 30, 2002, if the member:

(A) Has at least ten years of credited service as a firefighter;
(B) Is deemed permanently medically disqualified due to a service related disability to be a firefighter by the employer’s physician; and
(C) Continues employment in a class A or B position other than a firefighter; and
(8) After June 30, 2004, if the member:

(A) Has at least ten years of credited service as a police officer;
(B) Is deemed permanently medically disqualified due to a service related disability to be a police officer by the employer’s physician; and
(C) Continues employment in a class A or B position other than a police officer; then for each year of service as a firefighter, police officer, corrections officer, investigator of the department of the prosecuting attorney, investigator of the department of the attorney general, narcotics enforcement investigator, water safety officer, or law enforcement investigations staff investigator, the retirement allowance shall be two and one-half per cent of the member’s average final compensation. The maximum retirement allowance for those members shall not exceed eighty per cent of the member’s average final compensation. If the member has not attained age fifty-five, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed as though the member had attained age fifty-five, reduced for age as provided in subsection (e).
(c) If a member, who became a member prior to July 1, 2012, has credited service as a judge, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed on the following basis:

(1) For a member who has credited service as a judge before July 1, 1999, irrespective of age, for each year of credited service as a judge, three and one-half per cent of the member’s average final compensation in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service;
(2) For a member who first earned credited service as a judge after June 30, 1999, but before July 1, 2012, for each year of credited service as a judge, three and one-half per cent of the member’s average final compensation in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service. If the member has not attained age fifty-five, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed as though the member had attained age fifty-five, reduced for age as provided in subsection (e);
(3) For a member who first earned credited service as a judge after June 30, 2012, for each year of credited service as a judge, three per cent of the member’s average final compensation in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service. If the member has not attained age sixty, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed as though the member had attained age sixty, reduced for age as provided in subsection (i);
(4) For a judge with other credited service, as provided in subsection (b). If the member has not attained age fifty-five, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed as though the member had attained age fifty-five, reduced for age as provided in subsection (e); or
(5) For a judge with credited service as an elective officer or as a legislative officer, as provided in subsection (d).

No allowance shall exceed seventy-five per cent of the member’s average final compensation. If the allowance exceeds this limit, it shall be adjusted by reducing the annuity included in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) and the portion of the accumulated contributions specified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) in excess of the requirements of the reduced annuity shall be returned to the member upon the member’s retirement or paid to the member’s designated beneficiary upon the member’s death while in service or while on authorized leave without pay. The allowance for judges under this subsection, together with the retirement allowance provided by the federal government for similar service, shall in no case exceed seventy-five per cent of the member’s average final compensation.

(d) If a member, who became a member before July 1, 2012, has credited service as an elective officer or as a legislative officer, the member’s retirement allowance shall be derived by adding the allowances computed separately under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) as follows:

(1) For a member who has credited service as an elective officer before July 1, 2012, irrespective of age, for each year of credited service as an elective officer, three and one-half per cent of the member’s average final compensation as computed under section 88-81(e)(1), in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service;
(2) For a member, who first earned credited service as an elective officer after June 30, 2012, irrespective of age, for each year of credited service as an elective officer, three per cent of the member’s average final compensation as computed under section 88-81(e)(1), in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service;
(3) For a member who has credited service as a legislative officer before July 1, 2012, irrespective of age, for each year of credited service as a legislative officer, three and one-half per cent of the member’s average final compensation as computed under section 88-81(e)(2), in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service;
(4) For a member who first earned credited service as a legislative officer after June 30, 2012, irrespective of age, for each year of credited service as a legislative officer, three per cent of the member’s average final compensation as computed under section 88-81(e)(2), in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service;
(5) If the member has credited service as a judge, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed on the following basis:

(A) For a member who has credited service as a judge before July 1, 1999, irrespective of age, for each year of credited service as a judge, three and one-half per cent of the member’s average final compensation as computed under section 88-81(e)(3), in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service;
(B) For a member who first earned credited service as a judge after June 30, 1999, but before July 1, 2012, and has attained the age of fifty-five, for each year of credited service as a judge, three and one-half per cent of the member’s average final compensation as computed under section 88-81(e)(3), in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service. If the member has not attained age fifty-five, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed as though the member had attained age fifty-five, reduced for age as provided in subsection (e); and
(C) For a member who first earned credited service as a judge after June 30, 2012, and has attained the age of sixty, for each year of credited service as a judge, three per cent of the member’s average final compensation as computed under section 88-81(e)(3), in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service. If the member has not attained age sixty, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed as though the member had attained age sixty, reduced for age as provided in subsection (i); and
(6) For each year of credited service not included in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5), the average final compensation as computed under section 88-81(e)(4) shall be multiplied by two per cent for credited service earned as a class A or class H member, two and one-half per cent for credited service earned as a class B member, and one and one-quarter per cent for credited service earned as a class C member. If the member has not attained age fifty-five, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed as though the member had attained age fifty-five, reduced for age as provided in subsection (e).

The total retirement allowance shall not exceed seventy-five per cent of the member’s highest average final compensation calculated under section 88-81(e)(1), (2), (3), or (4). If the allowance exceeds this limit, it shall be adjusted by reducing any annuity accrued under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and the portion of the accumulated contributions specified in these paragraphs in excess of the requirements of the reduced annuity shall be returned to the member upon the member’s retirement or paid to the member’s designated beneficiary upon the member’s death while in service or while on authorized leave without pay. If a member has service credit as an elective officer or as a legislative officer in addition to service credit as a judge, then the retirement benefit calculation contained in this subsection shall supersede the formula contained in subsection (c).

(e) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d), if a member, who became a member before July 1, 2012, has not attained age fifty-five at the date of retirement, the member’s retirement allowance shall be reduced, for each month the member’s age at the date of retirement is below age fifty-five, as follows:

(1) 0.4166 per cent for each month below age fifty-five and above age forty-nine and eleven months; plus
(2) 0.3333 per cent for each month below age fifty and above age forty-four and eleven months; plus
(3) 0.2500 per cent for each month below age forty-five and above age thirty-nine and eleven months; plus
(4) 0.1666 per cent for each month below age forty; provided that no reduction shall be made if the member has at least twenty-five years of credited service as a firefighter, police officer, corrections officer, investigator of the department of the prosecuting attorney, investigator of the department of the attorney general, narcotics enforcement investigator, law enforcement investigations staff investigator, sewer worker, or water safety officer, of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service in these capacities.
(f) If a member, who becomes a member after June 30, 2012, has attained age sixty, the member’s maximum retirement allowance shall be one and three-fourths per cent of the member’s average final compensation multiplied by the total number of years of the member’s credited service as a class A and class B member, excluding any credited service as a judge, elective officer, or legislative officer, plus a retirement allowance of one and one-fourth per cent of the member’s average final compensation multiplied by the total number of years of prior credited service as a class C member, plus a retirement allowance of one and three-fourths per cent of the member’s average final compensation multiplied by the total number of years of prior credited service as a class H member; provided that:

(1) If the member has at least ten years of credited service of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service as a firefighter, police officer, or an investigator of the department of the prosecuting attorney;
(2) If the member has at least ten years of credited service of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service as a corrections officer;
(3) If the member has at least ten years of credited service of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service as an investigator of the department of the attorney general;
(4) If the member has at least ten years of credited service of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service as a narcotics enforcement investigator;

(5) If the member has at least ten years of credited service, of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service as a law enforcement investigations staff investigator;
(6) If the member:

(A) Has at least ten years of credited service as a firefighter;
(B) Is deemed permanently medically disqualified due to a service related disability to be a firefighter by the employer’s physician; and
(C) Continues employment in a class A or class B position other than a firefighter; and
(7) If the member:

(A) Has at least ten years of credited service as a police officer;
(B) Is deemed permanently medically disqualified due to a service related disability to be a police officer by the employer’s physician; and
(C) Continues employment in a class A or class B position other than a police officer,

then for each year of service as a firefighter, police officer, corrections officer, investigator of the department of the prosecuting attorney, investigator of the department of the attorney general, narcotics enforcement investigator, or law enforcement investigations staff investigator, the retirement allowance shall be two and one-fourth per cent of the member’s average final compensation. The maximum retirement allowance for those members shall not exceed eighty per cent of the member’s average final compensation. If the member has not attained age sixty, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed as though the member had attained age sixty, reduced for age as provided in subsection (i).

(g) If a member, who becomes a member after June 30, 2012, has credited service as a judge, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed on the following basis:

(1) For each year of credited service as a judge, three per cent of the member’s average final compensation in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service. If the member has not attained age sixty, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed as though the member had attained age sixty, reduced for age as provided in subsection (i);
(2) For a judge with other credited service, as provided in subsection (f). If the member has not attained age sixty, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed as though the member had attained age sixty, reduced for age as provided in subsection (i); and
(3) For a judge with credited service as an elective officer or as a legislative officer, as provided in subsection (h).

No allowance shall exceed seventy-five per cent of the member’s average final compensation. If the allowance exceeds this limit, it shall be adjusted by reducing the annuity included in paragraph (1) and the portion of the accumulated contributions specified in paragraph (1) in excess of the requirements of the reduced annuity shall be returned to the member upon the member’s retirement or paid to the member’s designated beneficiary upon the member’s death while in service or while on authorized leave without pay. The allowance for judges under this subsection, together with the retirement allowance provided by the federal government for similar service, shall in no case exceed seventy-five per cent of the member’s average final compensation.

(h) If a member, who becomes a member after June 30, 2012, has credited service as an elective officer or as a legislative officer, the member’s retirement allowance shall be derived by adding the allowances computed separately under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) as follows:

(1) Irrespective of age, for each year of credited service as an elective officer, three per cent of the member’s average final compensation as computed under section 88-81(f)(1), in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service;
(2) Irrespective of age, for each year of credited service as a legislative officer, three per cent of the member’s average final compensation as computed under section 88-81(f)(2), in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service;
(3) For each year of credited service as a judge, three per cent of the member’s average final compensation as computed under section 88-81(f)(3), in addition to an annuity that is the actuarial equivalent of the member’s accumulated contributions allocable to the period of service. If the member has not attained age sixty, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed as though the member had attained age sixty, reduced for age as provided in subsection (i); and
(4) For each year of credited service not included in paragraph (1), (2), or (3), the average final compensation as computed under section 88-81(f)(4) shall be multiplied by one and three-fourth per cent for credited service earned as a class A or class H member, two and one-fourth per cent for credited service earned as a class B member, and one and one-fourth per cent for credited service earned as a class C member. If the member has not attained age sixty, the member’s retirement allowance shall be computed as though the member had attained age sixty, reduced for age as provided in subsection (i).

The total retirement allowance shall not exceed seventy-five per cent of the member’s highest average final compensation calculated under section 88-81(f)(1), (2), (3), or (4). If the allowance exceeds this limit, it shall be adjusted by reducing any annuity accrued under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) and the portion of the accumulated contributions specified in these paragraphs in excess of the requirements of the reduced annuity shall be returned to the member upon the member’s retirement or paid to the member’s designated beneficiary upon the member’s death while in service or while on authorized leave without pay. If a member has service credit as an elective officer or as a legislative officer in addition to service credit as a judge, then the retirement benefit calculation contained in this subsection shall supersede the formula contained in subsection (g).

(i) Except as provided in subsections (f), (g), and (h), if a member, who becomes a member after June 30, 2012, has not attained age sixty at the date of retirement, the member’s retirement allowance shall be reduced, for each month the member’s age at the date of retirement is below age sixty, as follows:

(1) 0.4166 per cent for each month below age sixty and above age fifty-four and eleven months; plus
(2) 0.3333 per cent for each month below age fifty-five and above age forty-nine and eleven months; plus
(3) 0.2500 per cent for each month below age fifty and above age forty-four and eleven months; plus
(4) 0.1666 per cent for each month below age forty-five; provided that no reduction shall be made if the member has attained the age of fifty-five and has at least twenty-five years of credited service as a firefighter, police officer, corrections officer, investigator of the department of the prosecuting attorney, investigator of the department of the attorney general, narcotics enforcement investigator, law enforcement investigations staff investigator, sewer worker, water safety officer, or emergency medical technician, of which the last five or more years prior to retirement is credited service in these capacities.
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