Hawaii Revised Statutes Division 1. Government § 88-3

(1) Effective January 1, 2003, whenever a person receiving a pension from the system dies, the full monthly pension for the month in which the pensioner died, less any portion of the pension paid to the pensioner, shall be payable to the person who may have been designated by the pensioner during the pensioner's lifetime in a statement filed with the officer charged with the payment of the pension, or if no such designation has been made and filed, the prorated amount shall be paid to the personal representative of the estate of the pensioner; and

(2) Effective July 1, 2003, whenever a person receiving a pension from the system dies, the full monthly pension for the month in which the pensioner died shall be payable to the pensioner.