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Hawaiʻi benefits for Veterans and families, each checked against an official Hawaiʻi source and linked to it. Federal VA benefits work the same everywhere, and the Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services (OVS), Department of Defense can help you apply for them at no cost.
12 benefits from official sourcesLast verified
Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services (OVS), Department of Defense
How to read the labels:In effect confirmed on an official page. Not yet finalized announced or passed but not in force yet. Unverified — confirm with the agency we couldn't confirm it on an official page, so ask the agency.
Help from your state veterans office
OVS claims help and advocacy
In effect
OVS helps veterans prepare VA claims and appeals, represents them at VA hearings, helps with burials of indigent veterans, and keeps discharge documents on file. Free certified DD-214 copies are available if OVS has one on file.
Who qualifies
Hawaii veterans, dependents and survivors.
Amount or details
Free.
How to apply
Contact OVS at (808) 433-0420. Neighbor-island OVS offices are listed on the contact page.
Real property tax exemption: totally disabled veterans (county-administered)
In effect
A home owned and occupied by a totally disabled veteran, or by their widow(er), is exempt from real property tax. Honolulu exempts it from everything except the minimum tax. Rules differ by county.
Who qualifies
Veterans totally disabled from injuries sustained on active duty, and their widow(er)s.
Amount or details
Full exemption except the minimum tax (Honolulu).
How to apply
File form E-8-10.5 with the county real property office (Honolulu). Other islands have their own county offices.
Note
The program is administered by each county. Only Honolulu's page was reviewed.
“your home may be eligible for an exemption from real property taxes, except for the minimum tax. For this special exemption, veterans must file a claim on form E-8-10.5.”
Hawaii does not tax military pensions or other government or employer-funded pensions; they are subtracted on line 13 of Form N-11. Reserve and Hawaii National Guard duty pay up to $8,636 can also be excluded.
Who qualifies
Military retirees; Guard and Reserve members (duty pay).
Amount or details
Full military pension exclusion; up to $8,636 of Reserve/Guard pay.
How to apply
Subtract on Form N-11 line 13 (pensions) and use the Reserve/Guard pay exclusion.
“from a government retirement system (e.g., federal civil service, military pension, state or county retirement system), enter the qualifying amount here.”
$46 state registration fee exemption (100% disabled)
In effect
Veterans rated 100% service-connected get an exemption from the $46 state registration fee on one vehicle. They must request a new OVS exemption letter every year. Separately, passenger cars subsidized by the VA are tax exempt.
Who qualifies
Hawaii resident, discharged other than dishonorably, 100% service-connected.
Amount or details
$46 off the state registration fee (the rest of the registration still applies).
How to apply
Each year, fax (808.433.0385) or email OVS a copy of your license, current registration and VA 100% letter. Take the original OVS letter to the DMV.
“A new request must be made each year for an exemption letter.”
Honolulu: $20 county registration fee exemption for veterans 65+
In effect
Starting July 1, 2026, Honolulu veterans aged 65 and older who were not dishonorably discharged can be exempted from the $20 county vehicle registration fee on one non-commercial vehicle.
Who qualifies
Veterans 65+; City & County of Honolulu.
Amount or details
$20 per year (county fee only).
How to apply
Book an AlohaQ appointment at a satellite city hall and file form CS-L(MVR)50B with proof of veteran status.
“veterans of the U.S. armed forces 65 and older who were not dishonorably discharged may receive an exemption to the $20 City and County of Honolulu motor vehicle registration fee”
“Complete the Veteran 65+ Motor Vehicle County Fee Registration Exemption Form (CS-L(MVR)50B)”
Veteran specialty license plates
In effect
Qualified veterans can get Veteran, Combat, Combat Wounded, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Former POW, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf or Gold Star Family plates for the same cost as a regular plate.
Since October 1, 2014, veterans discharged other than dishonorably can have a veteran designation on their Hawaii driver license, state ID or instruction permit. OVS can certify DD-214 copies for this.
Who qualifies
Uniformed services veterans discharged other than dishonorably.
Amount or details
Not stated in source (see gaps).
How to apply
Bring an original or certified DD-214, or a VA or OVS verification letter, to the county driver licensing office.
University of Hawaiʻi resident tuition for GI Bill, VR&E, Fry and DEA students
In effect
UH charges the resident tuition rate to Veterans and family members using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, transferred GI Bill benefits, the Fry Scholarship, DEA (Chapter 35) or VR&E (Chapter 31), if they live in Hawaiʻi.
Who qualifies
Veterans and family members eligible for those VA education programs who live in Hawaiʻi (and keep continuous enrollment if they later move). Active-duty personnel stationed in Hawaiʻi, their dependents, and Hawaiʻi National Guard and Reserve members also get the resident rate.
Amount or details
Resident (in-state) tuition rate instead of the non-resident rate, under UH Board of Regents policy RP 6.208.
How to apply
Contact the residency officer at your UH campus. At UH Mānoa, call (808) 956-8975.
“Veterans eligible to use Post 9/11 GI Bill® or Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Program educational benefits per the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L.116-315), who live in Hawai‘i and those who subsequently move but maintain continuous enrollment”
“Individuals eligible to use educational assistance under the Survivors’ or Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) program, who live in Hawai‘i”
State civil service veterans preference (5 / 10 points)
In effect
In open competitive recruitments only, veterans get 5 preference points with a DD-214 and disabled veterans get 10 points with a recent VA letter (HRS 76-103).
Who qualifies
Honorably discharged veterans; disabled veterans for 10 points.
Amount or details
5 or 10 points.
How to apply
Attach the DD-214 Member 4 and, for 10 points, a VA or service letter dated within 12 months.
Hunting license: resident rate for active-duty stationed in Hawaiʻi; free for residents 65+
In effect
Hawaiʻi has no hunting license discount just for Veterans. Active-duty service members stationed in Hawaiʻi, and their spouses and children, buy at the resident rate. Residents 65 or older get a free license (stamps still cost $10 each).
Who qualifies
Active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces stationed in Hawaiʻi and their spouses and children (resident rate); Hawaiʻi residents 65 or older (free license).
Amount or details
Senior license is free, but a $10 Conservation stamp is needed to hunt game mammals and a $10 Game bird stamp to hunt game birds.
How to apply
Buy online at hunting.ehawaii.gov with a Hawaiʻi Hunter Education number, or at a license vendor or DOFAW office (Honolulu: (808) 587-0166).
The Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo and the 120-bed Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home in Kapolei, Oahu, provide skilled nursing and rehabilitation.
Who qualifies
Veterans needing skilled nursing or rehab.
Amount or details
Skilled nursing and rehabilitation.
How to apply
Hilo: (808) 961-1500. Akaka: use the form on the OVS homes page.
Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery (Kāneʻohe) and county veterans cemeteries
In effect
The Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery is in Kāneʻohe, Oahu (808-369-3575). There are also county veterans cemeteries on Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.
Who qualifies
Qualified veterans, including U.S. war allies, and dependents.
This state page was last reviewed against official sources on November 1, 2026. Our watcher re-checks those pages automatically and flags any item whose quoted wording disappears.