State veteran benefits

Veteran Benefits in Hawaii

Hawaii exempts qualifying military pensions from income tax and offers National Guard tuition assistance. Veterans can also seek county property-tax relief, use state veterans homes, and claim qualifying public-employment and vehicle-registration benefits.

Checked against official state sources on October 2, 2026.

Free help in Hawaii

Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services

The office manages state policies and programs for veterans and their families.

Agency website (opens in a new tab) · Phone: (808) 433-0420

Free help with VA claims

OVS assists with benefits forms and referrals statewide. Use its contact directory to find a state counselor.

Find a local office (opens in a new tab)

Not sure what applies to you?

Answer seven questions and the Benefits Finder builds a checklist of federal and state benefits, deadlines and free help.

Open the Benefits Finder

Property tax relief

Totally disabled veteran home-tax relief

Who qualifies: Totally disabled veterans and their surviving spouses who own and occupy the property as their home.
What you get: A property tax exemption on the home.
How to apply: Apply to the real property tax office of the county where the home is.

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (1)

Benefits and Services (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services

State income tax

Military retirement pay: Exempt

Military pension exclusion

Who qualifies: Recipients of qualifying military pension income.
What you get: Qualifying military pension income is excluded from Hawaii income tax.
How to apply: Follow the pension-subtraction instructions for Form N-11.

Official page (opens in a new tab) HRS 235-7(a)

Sources (2)

HRS 235-7 (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Legislature
Form N-11 Instructions 2025 (p. 13) (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Department of Taxation

Education and tuition

Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program

Who qualifies: Qualified Hawaii National Guard enlisted personnel, warrant officers, and company grade officers O1 through O3 who meet UH residency rules and pursue a UH undergraduate or graduate degree. Program military and academic requirements also apply.
What you get: Subject to funding. The 2026 program advertises 100% tuition reimbursement for a first undergraduate degree and 50% of tuition for classes toward a master's degree.
How to apply: Complete the STAP application and upload the signed HING Form 600-1 and required supporting documents.

Official page (opens in a new tab) HRS 121-45; Act 65, Session Laws of Hawaii 2026

Sources (5)

Act 65 of 2026 (p. 2) (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Legislature
HRS 121-45(a)(1) (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Legislature
STAP Flyer 2026 (p. 1) (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Air National Guard
State Tuition Assistance Program (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Air National Guard
STAP Application (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Air National Guard

State jobs and hiring preference

Veterans' preference

Who qualifies: Veterans, disabled veterans, spouses of disabled veterans, and unremarried surviving spouses of deceased service members, under the applicable rules.
What you get: Preference in qualifying state hiring. The recruitment notice determines the applicable points and documentation.
How to apply: For the five-point pathway, submit DD214 Member 4 showing honorable service.

Official page (opens in a new tab) HRS 76-103

Sources (2)

HRS 76-103 (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Legislature
Important Information (p. 1) (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Department of Human Resources Development

Licenses, plates and parks

Disabled veteran state vehicle-registration fee exemption

Who qualifies: Hawaii residents discharged under conditions other than dishonorable who have a VA service-connected 100% disability rating, including a 100% rating for compensation.
What you get: Exempts one owned noncommercial vehicle from the state annual registration fee. Other taxes and fees are not represented as waived.
How to apply: The application process was not fully verified. OVS publishes the current instructions on the linked page.

Official page (opens in a new tab) HRS 249-31.5

Sources (1)

HRS 249-31.5 (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Legislature

Emergency financial help

We could not confirm this from an official source yet. Ask Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services or a free veterans service officer what applies to you.

State veterans homes

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (1)

State Veteran Homes (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services

State veterans cemeteries

Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery

Location: Kaneohe

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (1)

Veteran Cemeteries (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services

Other state benefits

Special housing for disabled veterans

Who qualifies: Disabled veterans approved for federal Specially Adapted Housing assistance who lived in Hawaii before entering active service, are living in Hawaii when approved and applying, and use the Hawaii home as their permanent residence.
What you get: State help with specially adapted housing costs that the federal grant does not cover, as funding allows.
How to apply: Apply on the form designated by OVS and obtain its approval.

Official page (opens in a new tab) HRS 363-11; HAR 7-31-4.1

Sources (2)

HRS 363-11 (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Legislature
Hawaii Administrative Rules 7-31-4.1 (p. 7) (opens in a new tab), Hawaii Department of Defense

Before you apply

This page summarizes state law and agency guidance as checked on October 2, 2026. It is general information, not legal or tax advice. Eligibility depends on your records, and laws change, so confirm the details on the official page linked with each benefit, or ask a free accredited representative. This page covers the main state programs. Your county veterans service officer can tell you about smaller or local benefits.

Federal VA benefits apply in every state. See the Veteran Resource Directory and the Benefits Finder.