Traffic crashes and drug overdoses claimed more lives in Honolulu last year than in previous years, with new data showing sharp increases in roadway fatalities and a continued rise in drug-related deaths.
According to the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner’s Annual Statistical Report for fiscal year 2025, motor vehicle deaths climbed to their highest level in at least three years, while drug fatalities continued an upward trend.
The report covers the period from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, and is based on investigations into deaths that occurred suddenly, unexpectedly or under suspicious circumstances, along with autopsies and toxicology testing. The findings are shared with public health agencies and law enforcement to help guide prevention and enforcement strategies.
Traffic deaths showed the most dramatic change. The medical examiner recorded 90 motor vehicle-related fatalities in FY2025, up from 56 the previous year and 69 in FY2023.
Interim Honolulu Police Chief Rade Vanic told Aloha State Daily the Honolulu Police Department is using crash data to guide where officers are deployed.
“HPD has begun integrating data-driven analysis of traffic fatality trends to identify where serious and fatal crashes most often occur,” Vanic said. “This allows us to deploy officers more strategically in high-risk areas, with a focus on pedestrian safety, speeding and distracted driving.”
Drug-related deaths also continued to climb. The medical examiner handled 248 drug-related death cases in FY2025, compared with 221 in FY2024 and 203 in FY2023.
Methamphetamine remained the leading contributor, with 186 meth-related deaths reported in FY2025. Fentanyl-related deaths rose sharply, increasing by nearly 60% over three years, from 57 cases in FY2023 to 91 in FY2025. Cocaine-related deaths also increased during that period, rising from 16 cases to 33 cases.
At the federal level, the White House in December designated illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as a weapon of mass destruction, citing the drug’s extreme lethality and links to organized trafficking networks.
Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steven Alm and Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne E. Lopez were unavailable for comment before publication.
Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, reverses opioid overdoses such as those involving fentanyl or heroin, but it does not counter overdoses caused solely by stimulants like methamphetamine or cocaine.
Vanic said HPD continues to prioritize investigations that target larger drug trafficking networks.
“HPD is an active partner in the Hawaiʻi High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area,” he told ASD. “This collaboration allows law enforcement agencies to share intelligence, coordinate investigations and target larger drug trafficking organizations.”
During FY2025, the medical examiner received 3,562 death notifications, with 1,392 cases accepted as jurisdictional. The department transported 1,220 decedents to its facility and performed 1,392 procedures, including full and partial autopsies, external examinations and medical-record reviews. Toxicology testing was required in 880 cases.
Beyond forensic investigations, the medical examiner’s office also works with families to determine cause of death and provide documentation needed for legal, financial and personal matters.
Officials said the annual report is intended to promote transparency while helping agencies and the public better understand trends affecting the safety and health of Honolulu residents and visitors.
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
