A full benefit
- Hybrid, joined before July 1, 2012: age 62 with 5 years or age 55 with 30 years. Hybrid handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3, Service Retirement Eligibility Requirements (membership date prior to July 1, 2012: Age 62 w/5 yos, Age 55 w/30 yos; early Age 55 w/20 yos; multiplier 2.0%; vesting 5 yos; AFC average of 3 highest years of gross pay)
- Hybrid, joined after June 30, 2012: age 65 with 10 years or age 60 with 30 years. Hybrid handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3, Service Retirement Eligibility Requirements (membership date after June 30, 2012: Age 65 w/10 yos, Age 60 w/30 yos; early Age 55 w/20 yos; multiplier 1.75%; vesting 10 yos; AFC average of 5 highest years of base pay)
- Noncontributory: age 62 with 10 years or age 55 with 30 years. Vested and left State or County service before age 62: age 65 with 10 years, age 55 with 30 years, or age 55 with at least 20 but less than 30 years with a 6% age reduction for each year between age 55 and 62. Noncontributory handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3, Service Retirement Eligibility Requirements (Regular 62/10 and 55/30, no age reduction; Early 55/20, 6% age reduction for each year between age 55-62; Deferred 65/10, 55/30, 55/20-29 with 6% reduction); Noncontributory handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3, Deferred (Vested and left State or County service prior to age 62)
- Contributory general employees: age 55 with 5 years (joined before July 1, 2012), or age 60 with 10 years (after). Contributory handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3, Service Retirement Eligibility Requirements (membership date prior to July 1, 2012: Normal Age 55 w/5 yos; Early Any age w/25 yos; multiplier 2.0%; vesting 5 yos); Contributory handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3 (membership date after June 30, 2012: Normal Age 60 w/10 yos; Early Age 55 w/25 yos; multiplier 1.75%; vesting 10 yos)
Actual age in full years on the retirement date is used to meet retirement eligibility requirements. HAR §6-26-16
Retiring early
Hybrid and Noncontributory members can retire from age 55 with 20 years. The cut is permanent. ERS annual report 2024 p. 12, Early Retirement, Hybrid ('Maximum allowance reduced 5% per year under age 62'); p. 48, Note A.3; ERS actuarial valuation 2025 PDF p. 47, Table 16; ERS annual report 2024 p. 17, Early Retirement, Hybrid ('Maximum allowance reduced 5% per year under age 65'); p. 48, Note A.3; ERS actuarial valuation 2025 PDF p. 53, Table 16; Noncontributory handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3; ERS annual report 2024 p. 12 ('Maximum allowance reduced 6% per year under age 62')
| Age at start | Hybrid, before July 2012 | Hybrid, after June 2012 | Noncontributory |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 35% | 50% | 42% |
| 56 | 30% | 45% | 36% |
| 57 | 25% | 40% | 30% |
| 58 | 20% | 35% | 24% |
| 59 | 15% | 30% | 18% |
| 60 | 10% | 25% | 12% |
| 61 | 5% | 20% | 6% |
| 62 | none | 15% | none |
| 63 | none | 10% | none |
| 64 | none | 5% | none |
| 65 | none | none | none |
"None" means no cut at that age if you meet the service rule for a full benefit. With 30 years you're unreduced at 55 in the Hybrid plan (joined before July 2012) and the Noncontributory plan.
Counted by month
For the early-retirement reduction, the member's age nearest the year and full months is used; a fraction of 15 or more days counts as the next older month. Each month is deemed to have 30 days. HAR §6-26-15, §6-26-17
So a Hybrid member who is 58 years 6 months old is 3.5 years under 62. Our calculator cuts 17.5%: $2,475.00 a month, from the same $3,000.00.
| Rule | Born | Retiring | Exact age | Age used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early cut (nearest month)HAR §6-26-15, Example A | June 16, 1972 | June 1, 2027 | 54 yr 11 mo 15 d | 55 yr 0 mo |
| Early cut (nearest month)HAR §6-26-15, Example B | June 17, 1972 | June 1, 2027 | 54 yr 11 mo 14 d | 54 yr 11 mo |
| Eligibility (full years)HAR §6-26-16, Example A | December 31, 1965 | July 1, 2027 | 61 yr 6 mo 0 d | 61 |
| Eligibility (full years)HAR §6-26-16, Example B | January 1, 1973 | December 31, 2027 | 54 yr 11 mo 30 d | 54 |
| Option factors (nearest year)HAR §6-26-13, Example A | December 31, 1965 | July 1, 2027 | 61 yr 6 mo 0 d | 62 |
| Option factors (nearest year)HAR §6-26-13, Example B | December 12, 1965 | June 1, 2027 | 61 yr 5 mo 19 d | 61 |
Sources state the early reduction per year (5% Hybrid, 6% Noncontributory). HAR §6-26-15 says age to the nearest year and full month is used for the reduction, so our calculator prorates by month (5%/12 per month). No source shows a worked early-retirement example with a partial year.
What would settle it: HRS §88-332 (Hybrid) / §88-282 (Noncontributory) text, or an ERS estimate for an early retirement at a non-birthday dateJoined after June 30, 2012, with 30 years
You're unreduced at 60 with 30 years. Between 55 and 60, the sources say the cut is 5% a year under 65, not under 60. We follow the sources. ERS annual report 2024 p. 17, Early Retirement, Hybrid ('Maximum allowance reduced 5% per year under age 65'); p. 48, Note A.3; ERS actuarial valuation 2025 PDF p. 53, Table 16
For Hybrid members hired after June 30, 2012 with 30 or more years who retire at 55-59, the sources say early retirement is reduced 5% per year under age 65. Normal retirement with 30 years is at 60, so the reduction might instead be measured to 60. Our calculator follows the sources (to 65) and adds a note.
What would settle it: HRS §88-331/§88-332 text (blocked) or an ERS Benefits Calculator runIf some years count at 1.25%
Many Hybrid members have Noncontributory years from before 2006. The sources say only that the allowance is cut. They don't say whether the cut reaches the 1.25% part, or at which rate.
- Everything cut 20% (what our calculator does): $2,112.00
- Only the Hybrid part cut: $2,232.00
- Noncontributory part cut at its own 24%: $2,088.00
Whether the early-retirement reduction for a Hybrid member also applies to the 1.25% Noncontributory portion, and at which rate (5% Hybrid or 6% Noncontributory). Sources say only 'maximum allowance reduced 5% per year'. Our calculator reduces the whole allowance at the Hybrid rate.
What would settle it: HRS §88-332 or an ERS estimate for an early-retiring converted memberContributory members
Joined before July 1, 2012: any age with 25 years, cut 5% a year under 55 plus 4% a year under 50. Joined after June 30, 2012: from 55 with 25 years, cut 5% a year under 60. ERS annual report 2024 p. 12, Early Retirement, Contributory ('Maximum allowance reduced 5% per year under age 55 plus 4% per year under age 50'); p. 47, Note A.3; ERS annual report 2024 p. 17 ('reduced 5% per year under age 60 plus 4% per year under age 55'); p. 47, Note A.3 ('reduced by 5.00% per year under age 60')
For Contributory members hired after June 30, 2012, the ACFR introduction says the early allowance is 'reduced 5% per year under age 60 plus 4% per year under age 55' (p. 17) while Note A.3 says 'reduced by 5.00% per year under age 60' (p. 47). Early retirement requires age 55, so the extra 4% never applies; both give the same result.
ERS annual report 2024 p. 17 and p. 47If you leave before you retire
Noncontributory: Vested and left State or County service before age 62: age 65 with 10 years, age 55 with 30 years, or age 55 with at least 20 but less than 30 years with a 6% age reduction for each year between age 55 and 62. Noncontributory handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3, Deferred (Vested and left State or County service prior to age 62) Contributory: 5 years of credited service with contributions left in the ERS: accrued maximum allowance payable at age 55. ERS annual report 2024 p. 12, Deferred Vesting, Contributory
ACFR says a deferred pre-2012 Hybrid member's allowance is payable 'as early as age 55' (with 20 years, reduced) or at 62 with 5-19 years. Our calculator treats deferred Hybrid members like active ones; whether the 30-years-at-55 unreduced rule also applies after leaving is not stated for Hybrid.
What would settle it: HRS §88-331 text or the Leaving Employment handout for Hybrid with a deferred exampleFor a deferred (left service) Contributory member the ACFR says only 'payable at age 55'. Whether the 25-year any-age early retirement applies after leaving is not stated; our calculator does not allow it.
What would settle it: HRS §88-73/§88-74 textYour retirement date
Retirement dates must be the first of the month, except December, when retirement may be on the 1st or the 31st. File no earlier than 150 days and not less than 30 days before the retirement date. Your last day on the payroll (close of business date) cannot be the same as your retirement date. Only three service retirement applications may be filed; the third is mandatory. Hybrid handout (Oct. 2026) p. 2, Retirement Planning (2) and (3); HAR §6-26-2(1)
The first pension payment is direct deposited on the last business day of the month of retirement (if all documents are received), retroactive to the retirement date, and then on the last business day of every month. The pension is finalized within 6 months (7 months for December 31 retirements), including unused sick leave. Hybrid handout (Oct. 2026) p. 4, Pension Payment Information
From the sources
- Hybrid, membership before July 1, 2012: you can retire with no age penalty at age 62 with 5 years of service or at age 55 with 30 years.Hybrid handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3
- Hybrid, membership after June 30, 2012: you can retire with no age penalty at age 65 with 10 years of service or at age 60 with 30 years.Hybrid handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3
- Noncontributory: no age reduction at age 62 with 10 years or at age 55 with 30 years. If you were vested and left State or County service before age 62, it is age 65 with 10 years or age 55 with 30 years.Noncontributory handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3
- Contributory general employees with membership before July 1, 2012 can retire at age 55 with 5 years.Contributory handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3
- Retirement dates must be the first of a month, except in December, when you may retire on the 1st or the 31st. File your application no earlier than 150 days and no later than 30 days before your retirement date.Hybrid handout (Oct. 2026) p. 2; HAR §6-26-2(1)
- For eligibility, ERS uses your actual age in full years on the retirement date.HAR §6-26-16
- Hybrid members can retire early at age 55 with 20 years of service. The age penalty is 5% for each year under age 62 (membership before July 1, 2012) or under age 65 (membership after June 30, 2012), and it is permanent.Hybrid handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3; ERS annual report 2024 p. 12 and p. 17
- Noncontributory members can retire early at age 55 with at least 20 but fewer than 30 years. The benefit is reduced 6% for each year between age 55 and 62.Noncontributory handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3
- Contributory members with membership before July 1, 2012 can retire at any age with 25 years. The benefit is reduced 5% a year under age 55, plus 4% a year under age 50.ERS annual report 2024 p. 12
- Check with ERSERS measures the reduction by your age to the nearest year and month, with 15 or more days counting as a full month. This calculator prorates the yearly penalty by month.HAR §6-26-15
- Check with ERSIf you joined after June 30, 2012 and retire at 55 to 59 with 30 or more years, the sources still describe the reduction as 5% a year under age 65.ERS annual report 2024 p. 17; ERS actuarial valuation 2025 PDF p. 53
Questions
How much does retiring early cost?
Hybrid: 5% for each year under 62 (joined before July 1, 2012) or under 65 (joined after June 30, 2012). Noncontributory: 6% a year under 62. The cut lasts for life.
When can I retire early?
Hybrid and Noncontributory: from age 55 with 20 years of service.
Does ERS count partial years?
ERS uses your age to the nearest month for the cut. The sources don't show a partial-year example, so our calculator cuts a twelfth of the yearly rate for each month. Check with ERS.
What dates can I retire on?
The 1st of any month, or December 31.
Source: Hawaii ERS Hybrid Retirement Information, October 2026, pp. 2, 3, 4. Also: Noncontributory handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3; Contributory handout (Oct. 2026) p. 3; ERS annual report 2024 pp. 12, 17, 47, 48; ERS actuarial valuation 2025 PDF pp. 47, 53; HAR §§ 6-26-2, 6-26-13, 6-26-15, 6-26-16, 6-26-17. Last reviewed .