State file · HI
Veteran benefits in Hawaii
Hawaii excludes military pensions from state income tax, fully exempts the homes of totally disabled veterans from property tax, and keeps one of the lowest sales tax averages in the country. Here's the landscape, category by category.
Back to the state mapHawaii file
Financial benefits
Military retirement pay not taxed
Hawaii excludes pension compensation for past services from gross income, adjusted gross income, and taxable income, so retired military pay — including VA military disability retired pay — is not subject to state income tax.
DIC not taxed
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty.
Property tax exemption for totally disabled veterans
Real property owned and occupied as a home by a person who is totally disabled due to injuries received while on duty with the U.S. Armed Forces is exempt from all property taxes.
Passenger vehicle tax exemption
One vehicle per disabled veteran is exempt from tax when the vehicle was furnished by the federal government and the veteran is certified by the VA.
Sales tax picture
Statewide sales tax is 4.0%, with county additions of no more than 0.5%; the combined average is roughly 4.37%.
Recreation
Resident hunting licenses for stationed personnel
Active duty military personnel and their dependents stationed in Hawaii are treated as residents for the purpose of obtaining a hunting license.
Education programs
Resident tuition rates
Non-resident veterans, service members stationed in Hawaii, and their dependents are eligible to attend Hawaii colleges at the resident tuition rate.
National Guard tuition assistance
The Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program offers 100% community college or 50% university tuition waivers to eligible Guard members who have completed basic and advanced training.
Kupono Diploma Program
Awards honorary high school diplomas to veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, as well as internment camp survivors.
Interstate compact for military children
Hawaii participates in the interstate compact that removes school-transfer barriers for military children in enrollment, placement, graduation, and extracurricular activities.
Veteran housing
Hawaii State Veterans Home
The state veterans home provides care for honorably discharged veterans who served at least 180 days on active duty, meet a Hawaii residency requirement of three years, and need nursing-home-level care.
Employment & job training
Civil service preference
Honorably discharged veterans receive 5 points added to civil service examination scores; veterans with a service-connected disability receive 10 points.
Military leave for public employees
State and city employees receive 15 days of military leave per calendar year, with additional flexibility available.
Military caregiver leave
Eligible workers may take up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave in a single 12-month period to care for a military relative.
USERRA protections
Federal law protects the civilian job rights and benefits of veterans and members of Reserve components returning from duty.
Burials & memorials
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Hawaii is home to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
VA resources in Hawaii
Honolulu Regional Benefits Office
The VA regional office serving Hawaii for benefits claims and questions.
Official siteVA Pacific Islands Health Care System
VA medical care for Hawaii and the Pacific islands, based in Honolulu.
Official siteBefore you apply
- First-time applicants generally need a copy of their DD-214 or discharge paperwork — keep certified copies somewhere safe.
- Most programs require a discharge under other than dishonorable conditions; a dishonorable or bad-conduct discharge may bar eligibility.
- “Active service” has a specific definition for many programs — training periods don’t always count. When in doubt, ask the agency directly.
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