Hawaii Veteran Benefits

National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve members may exclude their drill and annual-training pay from Hawaii income tax, up to the amount an E-5 with eight years of service receives for 48 drills (12 weekends) plus 15 days of annual training. The exempt amount is adjusted each year; see the Hawaii Department of Taxation.

Military retired pay is exempt from Hawaii Income taxes.

A nonresident s ervice member's s pouse may be exempt from paying Hawaii taxes on income earned while stationed in Hawaii .

Military disability retirement pay received as a pension, annuity or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces should not be included in taxable income. Some of the payments which are considered disability benefits include:

DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease.

SBP, RCSBP and RSFPP annuities are not taxed in Hawaii.

Specially adapted vehicles that have been provided to service-connected disabled Veterans by the VA are exempt from Hawaii county vehicular taxes.

Nonresident Veterans, service members who are stationed in Hawaii and their dependents are eligible to attend colleges in Hawaii at the resident tuition rate.

Hawaii STAP offers tuition reimbursement for eligible Hawaii National Guard Service members up to 100% of tuition at a public community college and 50% of tuition at a public university.

The Hawaii WDD and American Job Centers offer a wide range of employment and training services for Veterans and service members transitioning to civilian employment.

The Hawaii UI program provides temporary financial assistance for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. UI is a partial, short-term replacement of lost wages while workers are seeking other work and is not intended to be a permanent source of income.

Hawaii offers a" Veteran" designation for Hawaii driver's licenses, state ID cards and instruction permits for eligible Veterans. Who is eligible for "Veteran" Designation for Hawaii Driver's Licenses, ID Cards and Instruction Permits? Veterans who served in the U.S.

Nonresident service member s serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces who are stationed in Hawaii are exempt from the Hawaii vehicle weight tax for one vehicle they own.

Hawaii offers 10 distinctive license plates to honor the service and sacrifice of eligible service members, Veterans, retired service members, and certain family members. Specific eligibility and documentation requirements will apply.

Hawaii National Guard Service members who are injured, become ill, disabled or die in the line of duty are eligible for medical coverage and compensation under Hawaii Workers' Compensation Laws .

Hawaii grants a $45 state vehicle registration fee exemption to a resident Veteran with a 100% service-connected disability rating and an other-than-dishonorable discharge, for one vehicle. County fees and state and county weight taxes still apply.

Nonresident active duty service members and their dependents stationed in Hawaii can purchase resident hunting licenses.

State and city employees receive 15 days military leave with pay for military duty per calendar year. An additional 15 days from the next year may be used if required.

Hawaii State employees are eligible for up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave in a single 12-month period to care for their military relative ( spous e, child , parent or next of kin) if they have a serious illness or injury they received in the line of duty while serving on active duty.

Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of spous es, surv iving spous es, or mothers of Veterans. Both a mother and a spous e (including surv iving spous e) may be entitled to preference based on the same Veteran's service if they both meet the requirements.

Health and pension plan coverage for service members is provided for by USERRA. Individuals perfor ming military duty of more than 30 days may elect to continue employer sponsored health care for up to 24 months; however, they may be required to pay up to 102% of the full premium.

The VA provides valuable life insurance benefits for Veterans, active and reserve component service members and their families to provide financial security given the extraordinary risks involved in military service. The VA provides the following life insurance benefit programs:

HSVC offers a dignified final resting place for Veterans and their eligible family members.

The VA National Cemetery Administration maintains one national cemetery, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, in Hawaii. Please see the local location listing for the nearest cemetery.

The VA has numerous resources and locations throughout the state available to assist Veterans and family members. To find a VA location in Hawaii enter Hawaii in the location field and choose the facility type you are searching for from the drop down menu at the "Learn more…" link below.