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Overall Rating: 75/100 · 89,000 veterans (8.2% of population)
Benefit details verified January 2025. Tax exemptions, caps, and eligibility change and can vary by county — always confirm current figures with your county assessor and your Hawaii Department of Veterans Affairs before you rely on them.
100% exempt - Military retirement pay completely exempt from state income tax
0.3% average effective rate
Effectively full (county-administered)
Totally disabled: exempt from all real property tax except a ~$150–300 minimum. County-administered. Nothing below total.
Source ↗No sales tax (General Excise Tax of 4% applies)
$124,000
VA Medical Center
459 Patterson Road, Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 433-0600
Primary care, Mental health, Specialty care, Surgery, Polytrauma/TBI, PTSD treatment
Tuition waiver
All veterans using GI Bill receive in-state tuition rates at UH system schools
4-year value: $88,000
Median Home
$1,200,000
1BR Rent
$2,000/mo
COL Index
184
Unemployment
3%
Major employers: Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (10,000+ civilian jobs), Schofield Barracks, State government, Tourism
Pros: Largest veteran community in Hawaii (60,000+), only VA medical center, best job market, perfect weather
Cons: Catastrophic housing costs ($1.2M median), highest cost of living in USA (84% above average)
Most veterans considering Hawaii for relocation pair this with one of these next steps:
Compare side-by-side
Stack Hawaii against the other 49 states on tax breaks, healthcare, and employment preferences.
Don't skip
State property tax exemptions kick in at specific rating tiers. Get your rating before you relocate.
Quick calculator
Determines which Hawaii property tax tier you qualify for. 30 seconds.
Buying a home
$0 down, no PMI. Funding fee waived for service-connected veterans.
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