Hawaii offers some of the most generous state veterans benefits in the nation — particularly for veterans with 100% service-connected disability ratings. The combination of a full property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans, a free University of Hawaii tuition waiver, complete military retirement income tax exemption, and robust federal VA facilities in the Pacific makes Hawaii an exceptional state for veterans to live and retire in.
Hawaii's veteran population includes a diverse mix of active duty military stationed at Pearl Harbor, Schofield Barracks, Hickam Air Force Base, and other installations; retirees who settled in Hawaii after service; and multi-generational families with deep military traditions — particularly from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and other World War II units with strong local roots. The state's unique geographic position in the Pacific also makes it home to veterans from Guam, American Samoa, and other Pacific territories who are served by VA's Pacific Islands Health Care System.
This guide covers all major Hawaii state veterans benefits — what they are, who qualifies, and how to claim them — along with the key federal VA benefits accessible through Hawaii's VA network. If you're a veteran living in Hawaii or considering relocating here, understanding the full benefits picture is essential to maximizing the compensation and services you've earned.
Many Hawaii veterans are underrated or missing service connections that would increase their monthly compensation. Get a free case review from a VA-accredited attorney who handles complex claims.
Check My VA Rating — Free →The Hawaii Office of Veterans Services (OVS) is the state agency responsible for advocating for Hawaii's approximately 116,000 veterans and their families, administering state veterans benefit programs, and serving as the primary state liaison to the federal VA system. OVS operates under the Hawaii Department of Defense (HDOD) — reflecting Hawaii's unique military history and the significant role the armed forces play in the state's identity and economy.
OVS core functions and services:
OVS contact information:
Hawaii's property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans is one of the most valuable state benefits available — and one of the best in the nation. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 246-31, veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating from the VA are entitled to a complete exemption from real property taxes on their primary residence.
Hawaii has some of the highest property values in the United States. In 2026, median home values on Oahu exceed $850,000; on Maui they exceed $1.1 million. Property tax rates in Hawaii range from approximately 0.18% (Honolulu residential rate) to 0.34% (Maui County), but even at Honolulu's relatively low rates, a $900,000 home generates $1,620 or more in annual property taxes. A full exemption on a home of that value saves a 100% disabled veteran over $1,600 per year — and for veterans with homes worth $1.5 million or more, the annual savings can exceed $2,700.
This benefit is comparable to the property tax exemptions offered by Texas, Florida, and Alabama for 100% disabled veterans — states known for having among the most generous veteran property tax benefits in the country. Hawaii's inclusion in this group is not widely known, making it important for 100% disabled veterans living in or moving to Hawaii to claim this exemption.
Property taxes in Hawaii are administered at the county level — each of the four counties (Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii County, Kauai) has its own real property tax office and application procedures. Apply to the county where your property is located:
Required documentation typically includes your VA disability rating letter (showing 100% combined rating), proof of residency (driver's license, utility bill), and the county's exemption application form. Most counties have a December 31 deadline for exemptions applying to the following tax year. Once approved, the exemption generally renews automatically unless your disability rating changes.
The University of Hawaii tuition waiver — sometimes called the "Hawaii GI Bill" — is one of the most valuable state education benefits for veterans in the country. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 304A-3001, eligible veterans are entitled to a complete waiver of tuition and fees at any University of Hawaii campus.
The UH system includes 10 campuses:
To qualify for the UH tuition waiver under HRS § 304A-3001:
The HRS § 304A-3001 waiver covers:
The waiver does NOT cover: room and board, meal plans, parking, health insurance fees (at some campuses), course-specific lab/materials fees beyond standard student fees, or graduate program-specific differential fees at some programs. These costs can be covered through the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill's MHA and book stipend payments — see the stacking section below.
To use the UH tuition waiver:
One of the best-kept secrets in Hawaii veteran benefits is the ability to stack the UH tuition waiver with the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill — creating a combination that can result in the veteran essentially getting paid to attend college at a University of Hawaii campus.
Here's how the stacking works:
| Payment Category | Paid By | 2026 Amount (Example: UH Manoa, Honolulu) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | State of Hawaii (HRS § 304A-3001 waiver) | $0 out of pocket (waiver covers ~$11,800/year resident tuition) |
| Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) | Federal Post-9/11 GI Bill | ~$2,300-$2,700/month (BAH E-5 Honolulu ZIP — varies) |
| Book stipend | Federal Post-9/11 GI Bill | Up to $1,000/academic year |
| Room, board, parking, other costs | Veteran pays from MHA stipend | MHA more than covers most housing costs for many veterans |
The result: an eligible veteran can attend UH Manoa with the state waiver covering 100% of tuition, while the federal GI Bill pays $2,300–$2,700/month in MHA and $1,000/year in book stipend. In many cases, the MHA payment exceeds the veteran's actual living costs — effectively providing a net positive monthly income while in school full-time. This is available for up to 36 months (3 years) of GI Bill eligibility at the federal level, and the UH waiver has no time limit for eligible veterans.
Hawaii provides a statutory veterans preference in state civil service hiring and employment, primarily governed by Hawaii Revised Statutes § 78-23 and related civil service statutes.
Hawaii Revised Statutes § 261-1 and related statutes governing the Hawaii Airports Division contain specific employment preference provisions for veterans in airport-related civil service positions. The Hawaii Department of Transportation — Airports Division operates a significant number of civilian positions at Honolulu International Airport (Daniel K. Inouye International Airport) and neighbor island airports — positions to which veterans preference applies in hiring.
Beyond hiring preference, Hawaii's civil service laws provide veterans with retention preference in reduction-in-force situations — veterans cannot be displaced by non-veterans with equivalent civil service standing in layoffs. Disabled veterans receive additional retention protection.
Veterans in Hawaii also benefit from strong federal hiring preferences under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) and veterans preference rules governing federal agencies. Hawaii has a significant federal employment base — DoD civilians, VA employees, National Park Service, and numerous other federal agencies — where veterans preference can be a decisive advantage in competitive hiring. Veterans with a 30%+ service-connected disability also qualify for OPM's 30% Disabled Veteran hiring authority, which allows non-competitive appointment to federal positions.
Hawaii fully exempts military retirement income from state income tax — one of the most financially significant state tax benefits for veteran retirees. Under Hawaii tax law administered by the Hawaii Department of Taxation, the following military retirement income categories are excluded from Hawaii gross income:
Why this matters: Hawaii has one of the highest state income tax rates in the nation — up to 11% on income over $400,000 for married filers, and rates that reach 8.25% at relatively modest income levels ($48,001 for single filers). A military retiree receiving $40,000/year in retirement pay would face approximately $2,200–$3,200 in Hawaii state income taxes if the income were taxable — but pays $0 in state income tax on that retirement pay due to the exemption. The longer a veteran's military career and the higher their retirement pay, the more valuable this exemption becomes over a multi-decade retirement.
Military retirement income should be excluded from Hawaii Form N-11 (Hawaii Individual Income Tax Return) — do not include it in gross income reported on the state return. If you receive both taxable and non-taxable income, carefully separate the sources. The Hawaii Department of Taxation publishes tax guidance on military income exclusions; consult Hawaii Tax Information Releases (TIRs) or a Hawaii tax professional if you have complex income situations involving both taxable and non-taxable retirement sources.
The Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home is Hawaii's state-operated nursing home for veterans, located in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. The facility is named in honor of Technical Sergeant Yukio Okutsu, a Medal of Honor recipient from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team who was born in Hawaii and served with extraordinary valor during World War II — emblematic of the deep military heritage of Hawaii's Japanese American community and the broader multi-ethnic makeup of Hawaii's veteran population.
The Yukio Okutsu Home operates as a State Veterans Home under the VA's Community Living Centers partnership program. Eligible veterans include those with honorable discharge, a VA-recognized disability or clinical need for nursing care, and Hawaii residency. VA contributes a per diem payment toward the cost of care for eligible veterans — significantly reducing the out-of-pocket cost compared to a non-veteran private nursing home. Veterans with a VA pension (Aid and Attendance) may find their pension covers a substantial portion of the remaining cost.
Contact the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home at: 1180 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720 | Phone: (808) 961-1500. Admission inquiries should be directed to the home's social work department.
Hawaii offers several hunting and fishing license benefits to veterans and active duty military:
Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or more are eligible for a free freshwater fishing license from the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). Standard freshwater fishing licenses are required for fishing in Hawaii's designated freshwater areas (primarily game fish stocking areas on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island). Apply for the free disabled veteran license at the DAR office or through the Hawaii DLNR online portal with documentation of your VA disability rating.
Active duty military stationed in Hawaii and honorably discharged veterans who are Hawaii residents receive discounted annual hunting licenses from the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). Hawaii has public hunting on State Forest Reserves, Game Management Areas, and certain public lands — primarily for feral pig, goat, and deer on some islands. Contact DOFAW for current licensing fees and any additional veteran discount programs: (808) 587-0166 or dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw.
Active duty military and their dependents qualify for the America the Beautiful — Annual Pass for U.S. Military, which provides free access to all federal fee-charging recreation sites — including Hawaii's national parks (Haleakala National Park, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park) and historic sites (Pearl Harbor National Memorial). Obtain the free military annual pass at any participating federal recreation site with a valid military ID.
Hawaii has two state veterans cemeteries and one of the most significant national veterans cemeteries in the United States:
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific — universally known as "Punchbowl" for its location in the Punchbowl volcanic crater in Honolulu — is one of the most historic and significant national veterans cemeteries in the United States. More than 53,000 veterans are interred at Punchbowl, including veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The cemetery is administered by the National Cemetery Scheduling Office (NCSO) of the VA.
Eligibility for Punchbowl follows national cemetery criteria: veterans with honorable discharge, POW/MIA veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and eligible dependents. Due to limited space, Punchbowl is currently accepting only cremated remains for in-ground burial for most veterans — full casket burial is restricted to veterans receiving certain military honors. Contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117 for eligibility and scheduling.
Veterans in Hawaii receive federal VA healthcare through the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS), which serves veterans across Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific territories (Guam, American Samoa, CNMI, RMI, Palau).
Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center — located at 459 Patterson Road, Honolulu, HI 96819 (at Tripler Army Medical Center, Moanalua Ridge) — provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical services including: primary care, mental health, surgery, oncology, cardiology, physical therapy, prosthetics, and many subspecialty services. The main VA medical center is also where the OVS main office is located, creating a convenient one-stop location for veterans seeking both healthcare and benefits assistance.
| CBOC Location | Island | Services |
|---|---|---|
| Hilo CBOC | Big Island (East) | Primary care, mental health, telehealth, lab |
| Kona CBOC | Big Island (West) | Primary care, mental health, telehealth |
| Maui CBOC (Kahului) | Maui | Primary care, mental health, telehealth, lab |
| Kauai CBOC (Lihue) | Kauai | Primary care, mental health, telehealth |
| American Samoa CBOC (Pago Pago) | American Samoa | Primary care, limited specialty care, telehealth |
Veterans on neighbor islands who need specialty care not available at their local CBOC may be referred to the Honolulu VA Medical Center or, for certain services, to civilian community care providers through the VA MISSION Act Community Care Program.
Veterans must enroll in VA healthcare to receive VA medical services. Apply online at VA.gov health care enrollment, call 1-877-222-8387, or visit the Honolulu VA Medical Center enrollment office in person. Veterans with service-connected disabilities of 50%+ are in the highest priority groups and typically experience minimal wait times and no co-pays.
The VAPIHCS has dedicated mental health programs for Hawaii veterans:
Veterans Crisis Line: Any veteran in mental health crisis can call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat at veteranscrisisline.net. Available 24/7 in Hawaii as everywhere else.
Beyond state-specific benefits, Hawaii veterans have access to all federal VA disability programs. The most impactful for Hawaii's veteran population:
Hawaii's high cost of housing creates particular challenges for veterans, but several programs help address these barriers:
| Benefit | Eligibility Threshold | Authority | Administering Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property tax exemption (full) | 100% SC disability rating | HRS § 246-31 | County real property tax offices |
| UH tuition waiver | Honorable discharge, 4+ years service, HI resident | HRS § 304A-3001 | UH Financial Aid offices / OVS |
| State civil service employment preference | Any honorable discharge (+5 pts); SC disability (+10 pts) | HRS § 78-23 | Hawaii DHRD |
| Military retirement income tax exemption | Any military retirement income | Hawaii tax law | Hawaii Dept. of Taxation |
| Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home | HI resident veteran, nursing care need | OVS / VA partnership | OVS / VAPIHCS |
| Free freshwater fishing license | 50%+ SC disability rating | DLNR / DAR policy | Hawaii DAR / DLNR |
| State veterans cemetery | Honorable discharge | OVS policy | OVS |
| VA healthcare (VAPIHCS) | Honorable or general discharge | 38 USC 1701 et seq. | VA Pacific Islands HCS |
Many Hawaii veterans are unaware of service-connected conditions they qualify for, or are under-rated for conditions they have already claimed. Hawaii veterans are encouraged to:
Hawaii's state benefits are most valuable at 100% — and VA-accredited attorneys can help veterans reach that rating if their service-connected conditions warrant it. No cost for the review.
Free Case Review →Yes — under HRS § 246-31, veterans with a 100% service-connected VA disability rating receive a full exemption from real property taxes on their primary residence in Hawaii. Apply through your county's real property tax office.
The "Hawaii GI Bill" is the UH tuition waiver under HRS § 304A-3001 — eligible veterans (honorable discharge, 4+ years service, Hawaii resident) receive free tuition and fees at any University of Hawaii campus. It can be stacked with the federal GI Bill's MHA payments.
No — Hawaii fully exempts military retirement pay from state income tax. With state income tax rates up to 11%, this exemption saves retirees thousands annually.
Hawaii's state veterans nursing home, located in Hilo on the Big Island. Named after WWII Medal of Honor recipient Yukio Okutsu of the 442nd RCT. Provides skilled nursing and long-term care to eligible Hawaii veterans with VA per diem contribution support.
Yes — use the state tuition waiver to cover tuition for free, while the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill pays your Monthly Housing Allowance (~$2,300-$2,700+/month in Honolulu) and book stipend. This combination makes UH essentially free and provides substantial living support.
Veterans with 50%+ service-connected disability get free freshwater fishing licenses. Active duty military get discounted hunting licenses. All active duty military and their dependents get free America the Beautiful annual pass for federal parks including Haleakala and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center in Honolulu is the main facility. CBOCs are on Maui, Big Island (Hilo and Kona), Kauai, and American Samoa. Telehealth is available statewide for veterans who cannot easily travel to VA facilities.