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Hawaii Veteran benefits

19 benefits from Hawaii for Veterans and their families, on top of what VA gives. Many need no disability rating.

Each one says who qualifies, how to apply, the official link, and the date we last checked it. Rules change, so the official page has the final word.

Free help in Hawaii

Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services (OVS) is the state Veterans agency. They can tell you what you qualify for and help you apply.

Call 808-433-0420 State agency website

A Veterans service officer (VSO) helps with VA claims and state benefits for free.

Find a service officer near you Hawaii's list of local offices
Your VA disability rating
Who is it for?

19 benefits

Property tax

  • 100%+

    Homes of Totally Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption

    A home owned and occupied by a veteran who is totally disabled from a service-incurred injury is exempt from all property taxes other than special assessments. The exemption continues for an unremarried surviving spouse who keeps living in the home.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Veteran must be totally disabled due to injuries received while on duty with the U.S. armed forces; exemption limited to one home per person and lasts only while the veteran remains totally disabled.
    How to apply
    File a claim with the county real property tax office where the home is located (each county has its own form); the Department of Taxation may require proof of total disability.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 100%+For family or survivors

    Surviving Spouse Property Tax Exemption

    Real property owned and occupied as home by surviving spouse of totally disabled veteran is exempt from all property taxes.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Widow(er) of veteran with 100% service-connected disability rating from VA.
    How to apply
    Apply with local real property tax office in your county. Requirements and forms vary by island.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    Military Reserve and Hawaii National Guard Duty Pay Exclusion

    Hawaii lets taxpayers exclude a set dollar amount of military reserve or Hawaii National Guard duty pay from state taxable income each year, with the amount adjusted periodically.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to taxpayers with military reserve or Hawaii National Guard duty pay reported for the taxable year.
    How to apply
    Claim the exclusion on Form N-11 following the Department of Taxation's N-11 instructions for the applicable tax year.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Military Retirement Pay State Income Tax Exemption

    Hawaii treats military retired pay as exempt employer-funded pension income, so it is not taxed on the state income tax return. Veterans exclude this income when filing Form N-11.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applies to military retirement pay reported to a Hawaii resident filer; the pay is excluded from Hawaii gross income.
    How to apply
    Exclude military retirement pay when completing Form N-11 (Hawaii Individual Income Tax Return) per the Department of Taxation instructions.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • 100%+

    State Vehicle Registration Fee Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans

    A Hawaii resident veteran who was discharged other than dishonorably and is rated 100% service-connected disabled by the VA is exempt from the state's annual vehicle registration fee on one non-commercial vehicle.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Must be a Hawaii resident, discharged other than dishonorably, and determined by the VA (or its predecessor) to have a service-connected 100% disability rating; exemption applies to only one vehicle and not to commercial vehicles.
    How to apply
    Send a copy of your driver's license, current vehicle registration, and current VA 100% disability letter to OVS by fax or email; OVS issues an original exemption letter each year to present to the county motor vehicle office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Designation on Driver's License, State ID, and Instruction Permit

    Hawaii offers an optional 'Veteran' designation printed on driver's licenses, state ID cards, and instruction permits for those who served in the uniformed services and were not dishonorably discharged.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Persons who served in any uniformed service of the United States and received a discharge other than dishonorable are eligible; proof of qualification (original or certified DD-214 or equivalent) is required.
    How to apply
    Provide a completed driver's license/ID application and proof of service at a county driver licensing office; adding the designation outside a renewal period requires the standard duplicate fee.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Special Number Plates

    Hawaii offers special number plates recognizing military service, issued for the same fee as a regular plate, available to qualifying veterans including combat, Pearl Harbor Survivor, former POW, and specific war-era designations.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to veterans who qualify for the specific plate category (e.g., Combat, Combat Wounded, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Former POW, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf Veteran, or Gold Star Family); also available for motorcycles.
    How to apply
    Submit required proof of qualification to OVS for certification, then apply for the plate through your county motor vehicle licensing office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star Family License Plate

    Special license plate available to immediate family members of service members killed in service. Cost is same as regular license plate.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings, children) of service members killed while serving on active duty or from injuries sustained during active service.
    How to apply
    Apply through County Department of Motor Vehicles with proof of Gold Star status. Available for noncommercial passenger vehicles and motorcycles.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

School and tuition

  • No rating needed

    Hawaii National Guard Tuition Assistance

    The Adjutant General may award tuition assistance, subject to available funds, to qualifying enlisted personnel, warrant officers, and company grade officers of the Hawaii National Guard who are Hawaii residents pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of Hawaii.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a resident of Hawaii and an undergraduate student on a University of Hawaii campus, and hold rank as an enlisted person, warrant officer, or company grade officer (O-1 through O-3) in the Hawaii National Guard.
    How to apply
    Apply through the Hawaii National Guard Education Services Officer; awards are subject to availability of funds under rules adopted by the Adjutant General.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Nonresident Tuition Exemption for Military-Connected Students

    The University of Hawaii Board of Regents may waive the nonresident tuition and fee differential for active-duty service members stationed in Hawaii, federal reserve component members drilling in Hawaii, and their authorized dependents, allowing payment at the resident tuition rate.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applies to U.S. Armed Forces service members on active duty in Hawaii, reserve component members who attend drills with units located in the state, and their authorized dependents, per Board of Regents policy.
    How to apply
    Submit proof of active-duty orders or reserve unit assignment and dependent status to the UH campus Financial Aid or Registrar's office when applying for the resident tuition rate.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • Any rating

    Veteran's Preference in State Civil Service Hiring

    Hawaii law directs that veterans, disabled veterans, spouses of disabled veterans, and unremarried surviving spouses of deceased servicemembers receive a hiring preference in state civil service jobs, with the extent set by administrative rule.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Honorably discharged veterans generally qualify for base preference points; veterans with a service-connected disability qualify for a higher preference point tier, as implemented in personnel rules.
    How to apply
    Submit a copy of your DD214 (or, for higher preference, a VA/service letter dated within the past 12 months) with your state job application to the hiring department's Human Resources office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Business certification and contracts

  • No rating needed

    Veteran-Owned Small Business State Contracting Assistance

    Hawaii's State Procurement Office runs a veteran contracting assistance program that recognizes SBA-verified Veteran-Owned Small Businesses for surplus property and related contracting opportunities, provided the business operates in Hawaii.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Business must be verified as a Veteran-Owned Small Business in the SBA's certification database and must have a location and operations in the State of Hawaii.
    How to apply
    Obtain SBA VOSB verification, then submit a narrative about your organization (services provided, facility information and location) to the State Procurement Office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    Burial Flag

    The Department of Veterans Affairs provides one burial flag per eligible veteran upon family request at time of death.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Most veterans, reservists, and former reservists are eligible to receive a burial flag.
    How to apply
    Request burial flag through mortuary at time of need. HSVC assists family in requesting flag. Can also contact VA regional offices or U.S. post offices.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Burial in Hawaii State Veterans Cemeteries

    Hawaii provides burial for eligible veterans and certain dependents in the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery on Oahu and county veterans cemeteries on Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, with no charge for the burial plot or headstone for those who qualify.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Eligible veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable (with minimum service requirements for those who entered after 1980), plus a spouse, minor children, or unmarried disabled adult children who predecease an eligible veteran.
    How to apply
    At time of need, the funeral director (or family directly) contacts the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery or county cemetery office with the veteran's discharge document (DD214 or equivalent) to schedule interment.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    County Veterans Cemeteries

    Hawaii counties maintain veterans cemeteries on Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, and Lanai islands providing burial services for qualified veterans and dependents similar to state cemetery.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Qualified veterans (including U.S. war allies) and their dependents with honorable discharge or better.
    How to apply
    Contact county cemetery or funeral director to arrange burial. Requirements vary by county.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Military Funeral Honors

    Free military funeral honors ceremony provided to eligible veterans upon family request, including folding and presenting U.S. flag and playing of Taps. Full honors available for retirees, those with 20+ years service, KIA, and Medal of Honor recipients.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Active duty and reserve servicemembers, veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and those with at least one term of enlistment in selected reserve.
    How to apply
    Family member or authorized representative notifies funeral home director or service coordinator of desire for military honors. Funeral director contacts appropriate military branch.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • Certain disabilities

    Special State Housing Grant for Disabled Veterans

    Hawaii's Office of Veterans' Services can pay part of the cost of purchasing or remodeling a specially adapted home for a qualifying disabled veteran, on top of the federal VA Specially Adapted Housing grant, funded to the extent appropriations allow. Assistance amounts, rates, and funding availability change often, so confirm the program is still offered and get current terms from the agency before relying on it.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Certain serious disabilities (see who qualifies). Veteran must have been a bona fide Hawaii resident before entering active service and must qualify for the federal VA Specially Adapted Housing program grant; the state's share can never exceed the federal government's share.
    must qualify for the federal VA Specially Adapted Housing grant
    How to apply
    Apply through the Office of Veterans' Services, which verifies eligibility and disburses approved state funds through the comptroller once the federal grant is approved.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    State Veterans Homes (Long-Term and Post-Acute Care)

    Hawaii operates the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo and the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home on Oahu, providing 24-hour skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation, and residential long-term placement designed for veterans' needs.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open to veterans with qualifying needs for post-acute or long-term nursing care; interested veterans should contact the home directly or discuss with their primary care physician.
    How to apply
    Contact the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home directly to inquire about admission and eligibility.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Other help

  • No rating needed

    OVS Claims Advocacy and Benefits Liaison Services

    The Office of Veterans' Services acts as the state's principal liaison for veterans, helping prepare and pursue VA claims, investigating benefit disputes, and coordinating state programs like cemeteries and veterans homes, all free of charge.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open to Hawaii veterans, their dependents, and survivors seeking help with federal, state, or local veterans' benefits.
    How to apply
    Contact the nearest OVS island office to sign a power of attorney and begin claims assistance or dispute resolution.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Also check

Education only. Helping The Brave is not a government agency. Confirm details with the agency before you apply.