Hawaii State Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans
100% State Benefits – Hawaii
Note: Information for this document was gathered from various sources including: https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/hawaii-state-veterans-benefits.html
Visit the Hawaii Office of Veteran’s Services website for more detailed information: http://dod.hawaii.gov/ovs/
Veterans Homes
For more information, visit: https://www.nasvh.org/state-homes/statedir.cfm
Your eligibility for State Veterans Homes is based on clinical need and setting availability.
Each State establishes eligibility and admission criteria for its homes.
Talk with a VA social worker about the eligibility requirements of State Veterans Homes near you and to figure out a plan for paying for State Veterans Home care services.
Veterans Homes Locations:
The Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo is a state nursing home for honorably discharged Hawaii resident veterans over 55 who require skilled nursing care and meet the VA requirements for an “eligible veteran”. The veteran is responsible for any costs not covered by the VA or medicare. Spouses may be eligible for admission depending on available space.
State Veterans’ Cemeteries
For more detailed information visit: https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/state.asp?STATE=HI
National Veterans Cemeteries:
| National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific 2177 Puowaina Drive Honolulu, HI 96813 Burial Space:Cremation Only | Phone: 808-532-3720 Fax: 808-532-3756 |
State Veterans Cemeteries:
| Hawaii Office of Veteran Services 459 Patterson Road E-Wing, Room 1-A103 Honolulu, HI 96819 VA Grant Funded: N/A | Phone: 808-433-0420 Fax: 808-433-0385 |
| East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery – 1 (Closed) 150 Kapiolani Street Hilo, HI 96720 VA Grant Funded: Yes | Phone: 808-961-8311 Fax: 808-961-8411 |
| East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery – 2 110 Laimana Street Hilo, HI 96720 VA Grant Funded: Yes | Phone: 808-961-8311 Fax: 808-961-8411 |
| Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery 45-349 Kamehameha Highway Kaneohe, HI 96744 VA Grant Funded: Yes | Phone: 808-369-3575 Fax: 808-233-3633 |
| Kauai Veterans Cemetery 4331 Lele Road Hanapepe, HI 96716 VA Grant Funded: Yes | Phone: 808-241-4460 Fax: 808-241-5126 |
| Lanai Veterans Cemetery Cemetery Road Lanai City, HI 96763 VA Grant Funded: Yes | Phone: 808-565-6979 |
| Maui Veterans Cemetery Baldwin Avenue Makawao, HI 96786 VA Grant Funded: Yes | Phone: 808-876-4534 Fax: 808-573-0757 |
| Molokai Veterans Cemetery 2725 Lihi Pali Avenue Hoolehua, HI 96748 VA Grant Funded: Yes | Phone: 808-553-3221 Fax: 808-553-5050 |
| West Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery 72-3245 Queen Kaahumanu Highway Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 VA Grant Funded: Yes | Phone: 808-961-8311 |
Veterans, spouses, and some dependents are eligible for interment. There may be a small fee charged for burial.
Many states have established state veterans cemeteries. Eligibility is like Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries but may include residency requirements. Even though they may have been established or improved with Government funds through VA’s Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, state veterans cemeteries are run solely by the states.
Housing Benefits
Special Housing for Disabled Veterans
Payment by the state of up to $5,000 to each qualified, totally disabled veteran for the purpose of purchasing or remodeling a home to improve handicapped accessibility.
The award of this benefit is dependent upon the availability of State Funding and Veteran Affairs approval.
Contact local VSO for more information about this program.
Hawaii Veteran Financial Benefits
Income Tax
Retired pay and SBP (Survivor Benefit Plan) payments are tax-free.
Hawaii National Guard and Reserve drill pay are tax-free. Up to the amount that an E-5 with eight years of service receives for forty-eight drills (equivalent of twelve weekends) and fifteen days of annual training duty is exempt.
Property Tax Exemptions
Visit the following website for more information: https://dod.hawaii.gov/ovs/benefits-and-services/
Real property owned and occupied as a home by a totally disabled veteran or their surviving spouse may be exempt from all property taxes on their primary residence.
This benefit varies by county. Visit your local property tax office for more information.
For more information go to the below links:
City and County of Honolulu:
https://realpropertyhonolulu.com/exemption-info/exemption-information/
Hawaii County:
https://www.hawaiipropertytax.com/
Maui County:
https://www.mauicounty.gov/1952/Real-Property-Assessment-Division
Kauai:
https://www.kauai.gov/RealProperty
Find your local tax assessor at this link: https://www.publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/Assessor-and-Property-Tax-Records.htm
Vehicle Registration Fee Waiver
Visit the following website for more information: https://dod.hawaii.gov/ovs/benefits-and-services/#:~:text=MOTOR%20VEHICLE%20EXEMPTION
Permanently disabled veterans can get a $45.00 discount on the state registration fee. To be eligible, you must have a service-connected 100% VA disability rating, be a Hawaii resident and have an other than dishonorable discharge.
To prove the eligibility requirements, please submit via fax (808.433.0385) or email (ovs@hawaii.gov)
- Copy of your driver’s license (to prove resident of Hawaii)
- Copy of your current car registration (applies to 1 vehicle only)
- Copy of your current VA 100% Disability Letter
- Current mailing address if different from license
Our staff will send you the original letter along with a copy for your records to your mailing address. The DMV will only accept the original letter.
A new request must be made each year for an exemption letter. The request must include current information about your 100% disabled rating.
Please note, the DMV will not accept an exemption letter from a previous year. Additionally, your vehicle must have a current unexpired registration and safety check before you can be issued a $45.00 exemption letter for any given year.
There is also a tax exemption on passenger cars subsidized by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles Office for more information.
We recommend calling ahead of time to learn discover what documentation will be needed for this Fee Waiver.
See the following links for more information:
City and County of Honolulu:
https://www.honolulu.gov/csd/vehicle.html
Hawaii County:
https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/departments/finance/vehicle-registration-licensing
Maui County:
https://www.mauicounty.gov/1328/Motor-Vehicle-Licensing
Kauai:
https://www.kauai.gov/DMV
Hawaii State Education Benefits
State Educational Benefits can be used in conjunction with the National Educational Benefits (DEA)
Hawaii Army National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program (STAP)
The Hawaii Army National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) offers tuition waivers for eligible National Guard members who have completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training. The waiver covers 100% of your tuition if you are a community college student, and 50% of your tuition if you are a four-year university student. In order to be eligible for STAP, you must:
- Be pursuing an undergraduate degree
- Be enrolled in courses pertaining to that undergraduate degree
- Be a satisfactory performer in your assigned Hawaii National Guard unit
STAP can also be used in conjunction with your G.I. Bill and Federal Tuition Assistance benefits.
How to Apply:
To apply, contact the Education Office at the Hawaii Army National Guard Recruiting & Retention Battalion at (808) 844-6027.
Hawaii State Employment Veterans Preference
Non-disabled veterans receive 5 preference points, disabled veterans receive 10 points. Preference points are added to examination scores completed by applicants for open competitive state employment positions.
Hawaii Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting Licenses
Active-duty military personnel and their dependents stationed in Hawaii are considered to be residents for the purposes of obtaining a hunting license.
