Benefits And Services
Services Offered:
- Assist in preparation of VA claims
- Assist with burials of indigent veterans
- Employment and Re-employment
- Hawaiʻi Veterans Newsletter, Roster, Website and Memorial Fund
- Help individuals file VA Appeals
- Support various Grant-in-Aid requests for veteran related items, for example veterans’ cemeteries, Arizona Memorial, Aviation Museum, Veterans Centers statewide etc.
- Governor’s Liaison to veterans
- Legislative Advocate for veterans – State & Federal
- Maintain discharge documents
- Refer individuals not qualified for VA benefits to other agencies
- Represent veterans at VA hearings
- Home Tax Exemptions for totally disabled veterans’
- Review medical service records
- Validate Service Credit for the State Employees Retirement System
- Yukio Okutsu Hilo Veterans Home (Hilo) and Daniel K. Akaka Veterans Home (Oahu) – development & oversight
Advocacy
Advocacy is the primary service offered by the office. OVS may take action on behalf of Veterans, their families, and survivors to secure appropriate rights, benefits, & services. This includes receiving, investigating, and resolving disputes or complaints of any nature.
Burials
Burials for qualified veterans (including U.S. war allies) and their dependents can be buried in the Hawaii State Veterans’ Cemetery on Oahu or Veterans’ cemeteries on Hawaiʻi, Kauai, Maui, Molokai or Lanai.
License Plates
For the same cost as a regular license plate Veterans can choose, if qualified, a Veteran, Combat or Combat Wounded, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Former POW, World War II Veteran, Korea Veteran, Vietnam Veteran, Persian Gulf Veteran, or Gold Star Family license plate. These plates are also available for motorcycles.
State License Plate Examples
For more information go to the below links:
City and County of Honolulu
Hawaiʻi County
*This worksheet has instructions and provides contact information for veterans to send to our Hilo OVS office.
Maui County
Kauai
Hawaii Revised Statues
Real Property Tax Exemption
Tax exemptions on real property owned and occupied as a home by a totally disabled Veteran or their widow(er). Tax exemptions on passenger cars when they are owned by totally disabled Veterans and subsidized by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. This benefit varies by island. Visit your local real property tax office for more information.
For more information go to the below links:
City and County of Honolulu
Hawaiʻi County
Maui County
Kauai County
Motor Vehicle Exemption
(Entitles you to a $46.00 State Registration Fee Exemption Only.) You must still pay the balance due. For example, if your registration fee is $246.00 DMV will minus $46.00 and then you will have to pay the remaining balance of $200 for your car registration.
The Veteran must meet all 3 eligibility requirements:
- Is a resident of Hawaii;
- Has been other than dishonorably discharged from the United States uniformed armed forces;
- Is determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a 100% service-connected disability rating
To prove the eligibility requirements, please submit via fax (808.433.0385) or email ([email protected])
- 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 $46.00 exemption letter for any given year.
There is also a tax exemption on passenger cars subsidized by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
Hawaii Revised Statues
Vital Statistics
Free certified copies of DD-214 (Military Discharge paperwork) if we have it on file.