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About 30% of Hawaii’s veterans receive VA disability compensation and the state provides them with a package of benefits designed to supplement federal VA programs, including: 

  • Full property tax exemption for totally disabled veterans 
  • Motor vehicle registration fee exemptions for veterans rated 100% service-connected 
  • Resident tuition rates at University of Hawaii campuses for GI Bill recipients 
  • Skilled nursing care at two state veterans homes

This guide covers the state-specific benefits available to disabled veterans in Hawaii, explains the disability ratings required to access each benefit, and points to the resources and legal assistance that can help veterans claim everything they have earned. 

Tax Exemptions and Housing Benefits 

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Property Taxes in Hawaii?

Hawaii offers property tax exemptions to veterans with a 100% disability rating (and lower in some counties) from injuries received while on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces.  

  • In Honolulu and Hawaii counties, totally disabled veterans are exempt from all property taxes on their primary residence, except a minimum tax of $150
  • Hawaii county also allows veterans rated 100% through TDIU to be eligible  
  • In Kauaʻi County, 80% disabled veterans are exempt from taxes on all real property, for a taxable value of up to $50,000 
  • In Maui County, veterans rated 70% or more are exempt 

These tax exemptions also extend to the unmarried surviving spouses of disabled veterans and remain in effect for as long as the qualifying status is maintained. 

Property taxes in Hawaii are administered at the county level, so the forms, deadlines, and exact amounts vary by island. In the City and County of Honolulu, veterans must file Form E-8-10.5 with the Real Property Assessment Division along with a physician’s certificate of disability.  

The filing deadline is June 30 to take effect for the first tax payment, or December 31 for the second payment. Contact your county’s real property tax office to confirm the current requirements and applicable exemption amount.

Disabled Veteran Housing in Hawaii

Disabled veterans in Hawaii have several housing options beyond the standard rental and ownership market. The VA Home Loan program is available statewide for veterans meeting service and credit requirements, and can be used to purchase, build, or improve a home.  

Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities may also qualify for Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) or Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grants to modify or purchase a home suited to their disability. 

Can Veterans Rent Military Housing in Hawaii?

Eligible veterans and military retirees may be able to rent on-base housing in Hawaii when vacancies exist. Hawaii hosts several privatized military housing communities that serve active-duty service members first but also accept qualified retirees and other eligible tenants when units are available.

Army communities at Schofield Barracks, Fort Shafter, and other Oahu installations are managed by Island Palm Communities, while Navy and Marine Corps housing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Marine Corps Base Hawaii is managed by Ohana Military Communities. Contact the housing office at the relevant installation directly to confirm current availability and eligibility requirements. 

Do you deserve a higher disability rating but the VA underrated you? Get a free case evaluation here. 

Transportation Benefits

Do Veterans Get Free Car Registration in Hawaii? 

Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating can receive an annual $46 state registration fee exemption on one non-commercial vehicle. The exemption does not automatically carry over from year to year; veterans must obtain a new exemption letter from the Hawaii Office of Veterans’ Services each year. 

The exemption letter must reflect the current 100% disability rating, and the vehicle must have a current, unexpired registration and safety check before the exemption letter can be issued. Submit a copy of your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and VA disability letter to OVS by fax (808-433-0385) or email. 

Starting July 1, 2026, veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces aged 65 and older (not dishonorably discharged) will also be eligible for a $20 City and County of Honolulu registration fee exemption for one vehicle annually, following legislation signed in late 2025. 

Do Veterans Pay Sales Tax on Vehicles in Hawaii?

If a service-connected disabled veteran gets a specially adapted vehicle from the VA, or if the VA helps pay for it, the transaction is exempt from all Hawaii taxes. Otherwise, veterans purchasing a standard vehicle in Hawaii are subject to the General Excise Tax (GET) and county surcharges like any other resident. 

How to Get Disabled Veteran License Plates in Hawaii

Hawaii offers a Veteran license plate and other specialty license plates for veterans and certain family members, at the same cost as a standard Hawaii license plate. The plates may be used on non-commercial passenger vehicles, motorcycles, and motor scooters. 

Because Hawaii does not have a statewide DMV, plates are issued by each county’s department of motor vehicles. To apply, visit your county DMV with proof of eligibility (such as a DD-214 or VA award letter) and any applicable application forms. 

Education Benefits

Do Veterans Pay College Tuition in Hawaii? 

Hawaii does not currently offer a state-funded tuition waiver specifically for disabled veterans themselves, beyond the resident tuition rate available to non-resident veterans through GI Bill eligibility.  

Members of the Hawaii Army National Guard may apply for the State Tuition Assistance Program (STAP), which covers 100% of tuition at community colleges and 50% at four-year state universities, and can be combined with federal GI Bill benefits. 

Employment Benefits 

Hawaii Veterans Hiring Preference

Hawaii grants preference points to veterans applying for competitive state civil service positions. The points are added to a passing examination score: 

  • 10 points: Veterans with a service-connected disability, Purple Heart recipients, or spouses of disabled veterans whose disability prevents them from working. 
  • 5 points: Veterans who received an honorable discharge or Reserve/Guard members meeting minimum service requirements. 

To claim the 10-point preference, applicants must submit an official letter from the VA or armed services, confirming disability status and dated within the past 12 months. 

For assistance applying for state jobs, the Hawaii Department of Labor’s Workforce Development Division operates American Job Centers statewide staffed by Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists and Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs), who are trained to connect veterans with employment and training opportunities. 

Healthcare Benefits

VA healthcare in Hawaii is provided through the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS), which serves an estimated 50,000 veterans across Hawaii and the Pacific Islands each year.  

The system includes the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center at 459 Patterson Road in Honolulu, as well as community-based outpatient clinics on multiple islands. 

Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

  • Daniel Kahikina Akaka VA Clinic: 91-1051 Franklin D. Roosevelt Avenue, Kapolei, HI 96707 
  • Hilo VA Clinic: 45 Mohouli Street, Hilo, HI 96720 
  • Kailua-Kona VA Clinic: 73-5618 Maiau Street, Kamanu Center, Suite C200, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 
  • Lihue VA Clinic: 4485 Pahe’e Street, Suite 150, Lihue, HI 96766 
  • Maui VA Clinic: 203 Ho’ohana Street, Suite 303, Kahului, HI 96732 
  • Windward VA Clinic: 46-001 Kamehameha Highway, Castle Professional Center, Suite 301, Kaneohe, HI 96744 
  • Molokai VA Clinic: 604 Mauna Loa Highway, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 
  • Lanai VA Clinic: 628-B Seventh Street, Lanai City, HI 96763 

Hawaii Veterans Homes

Hawaii operates two state veterans homes, in Hilo and Kapolei, providing skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and long-term care services for eligible veterans and their spouses. 

Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home at 1180 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720 (Phone 808-961-1500) is a 95-bed skilled nursing facility serving honorably discharged Hawaii veterans aged 55 and older who require skilled or long-term nursing care.

Applicants must have been a Hawaii resident for at least one year prior to application. Spouses, surviving spouses, and Gold Star Parents may be admitted on a space-available basis. 

Daniel Kahikina Akaka State Veterans Home (91-1204 Kealanani Avenue, Kapolei, HI 96707) is Hawaii’s second and largest state veterans home, a 120-bed facility in Kapolei on Oahu that opened in March 2025.  

The facility offers skilled nursing, memory care, hospice, long-term care, and on-site physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Eligible veterans must have an honorable discharge and require long-term level of care as certified by a physician. Spouses and Gold Star Parents are also eligible. 

Burial and Survivor Benefits

In addition to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu (a VA national cemetery that also serves Hawaii veterans), Hawaii operates eight State Veterans’ Cemeteries across six islands: Oahu (Kaneohe), the Big Island (Hilo), Kauai (Hanapepe), Maui (Makawao), Molokai (Hoolehua), and Lanai (Lanai City).

Burial in the Hawaii State Veterans’ Cemeteries is available to veterans, their spouses, and eligible dependent children. Contact the Hawaii Office of Veterans’ Services for eligibility requirements and burial arrangements. 

Surviving spouses and dependents of New Mexico veterans may also qualify for death and burial benefits, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, and accrued benefits.

Federal Benefits Available to Hawaii Veterans 

  • Monthly tax-free compensation payments based on disability rating (calculate it here) 
  • Medical care, including mental health services and counseling 
  • Special compensation, Aid & Attendance and other financial benefits 
  • Home loans and housing benefits 
  • Vocational rehabilitation and employment services 
  • Education benefits through the GI Bill 
  • Survivor benefits 
  • Federal hiring preference 

Eligibility for some of these benefits depends on the disability rating percentage. Use the links below to see what federal benefits Hawaii veterans can get with a rating of 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, etc. 

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits

Veterans with a 100% disability rating receive the highest level of federal VA benefits, including: 

  • Full monthly VA compensation
  • Full VA healthcare coverage
  • Dental care
  • Adaptive equipment grants

See all federal benefits for a 100% disabled Hawaii veteran → 

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits for Spouse and Dependents

Spouses and family members of 100% disabled veterans may also be able to get several benefits:

  • CHAMPVA healthcare  
  • DIC eligibility  
  • Education benefits  
  • Continued property tax exemption  
  • Access to Hawaii state resources  

Benefits for Toxic Exposure

Hawaii veterans and veterans who served at a military base in Hawaii and developed disabilities may be eligible for compensation and VA benefits. If you served at a base in a different state, find yours on the Military Base Toxic Exposure Map. 

Hawaii Military Bases with Known Toxins 

Hill & Ponton has decades of experience in helping veterans get compensation for conditions caused by exposure to dangerous substances, from Agent Orange to burn pits, jet fuel, and PFAS. 

Getting VA Disability in Hawaii 

Several local and national resources are available to help guide applicants through the VA disability claims process in Hawaii. These resources include local veterans organizations, state-sponsored VA services, and qualified attorneys who specialize in veterans law. 

How to Apply for VA Benefits in Hawaii – Free Guide 

Attorney Matthew Hill has written THE book on how to get VA disability compensation and benefits. Get it here free of charge. We also offer a free downloadable version for easy, immediate access. 

Legal Resources for Disabled Veterans 

  • Hawaii Office of Veterans’ Services (OVS): Free assistance with VA claims, appeals, hearings, and benefits navigation. VSOs are stationed at the Honolulu VA Regional Office. Phone: 808-433-0420 
  • Honolulu VA Regional Benefit Office: 459 Patterson Road, E-Wing, Honolulu, HI 96819 | Phone: 833-577-8387 
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of Hawaii: VFW service officers assist with claim preparation and representation at VA hearings. Phone: 808-433-0494 

Attorneys Specialized in VA Disability Law 

Our VA-accredited lawyers proudly represent Hawaii veterans who were denied or underrated by the VA, with no upfront costs. Contact us for a free evaluation – even if we don’t take your case, we’ll point you in the right direction!