Honolulu Pension Spiking Costs, 2019-2025 

When county employees work excessive amounts of overtime before retirement, the state Employees Retirement System charges the county a commensurate amount. First responder agencies, which have suffered from understaffing, are among the biggest users of overtime.

Hawaiʻi legislators changed state law in 2012 to prevent overtime from being considered in pension payments, but it only applies to employees hired after the law was passed. It could take many years for the changes to be felt.
Chart: Christina Jedra/Civil Beat/2025Source: City & County of Honolulu