Owning in Hawaii
Data from January 2026
Property tax in Hawaii
The typical owner in Hawaii pays $2,239 a year, about 0.27% of the home’s value (0.94% nationwide). Here are the exemptions and discounts the state publishes, the deadlines to claim them or appeal, and every county’s figure.
Key numbers in Hawaii
- Typical tax
- $2,239
- per year, typical household
- 28% less than the U.S.
- Effective rate
- 0.27%
- tax ÷ value (estimate)
- 71% less than the U.S.
- United States
- 0.94%
- national effective rate
- Exemptions and relief
- 1
- published by the state, with the source
The state's rules
Hawaii's rules, in one table
The assessment cap, the homestead exemption, when to protest and when to pay, as Hawaii's official source states them. Tap "What the source says" to read the exact text.
| Rule | What Hawaii says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead exemption | In Hawaii property tax is handled only by the counties, not the state. Each county decides its own exemptions for the home you live in and how to apply. Ask your county's Real Property tax office. What the source says· Haw. Const. art. VIII, § 3“The State Constitution does not prohibit or limit the power of taxation, and reserves all taxing power to the State, except to the extent delegated by the Legislature to the political subdivisions of the State and except all the functions, powers and duties related to real property taxation, which is exercised exclusively by the counties.” | Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance Verified November 6, 2026 |
| Protest deadline Set by your county or town | In Hawaii assessment appeals are handled by your county, not the state: each county sets the deadline and the board of review. Check your assessment notice or ask your county's Real Property tax office. What the source says· Haw. Const. art. VIII, § 3“except all the functions, powers and duties related to real property taxation, which is exercised exclusively by the counties.” | Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance Verified November 6, 2026 |
| When to pay | Bill and payment dates are set by each county, because in Hawaii only the counties collect property tax. Check your bill or your county's website. What the source says· Haw. Const. art. VIII, § 3“except all the functions, powers and duties related to real property taxation, which is exercised exclusively by the counties.” | Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance Verified November 6, 2026 |
Not verified yet: Cap on your home, Cap on other property, What triggers a new assessment, Older owners, Owners with a disability, Veterans.
Did your assessment go up?By place
Every county, with its figure
What the typical owner pays in each county of Hawaii, with the typical home value and the effective rate. Highest tax first.
| Honolulu County | $2,553 | $897,500 | 0.28% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kauai County | $1,866 | $873,200 | 0.21% |
| Maui County | $1,466 | $904,700 | 0.16% |
| Hawaii County | $1,459 | $519,300 | 0.28% |
Effective rate: typical tax ÷ typical value, our estimate from two Census medians. Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Exemptions
Which exemption fits you?
What Hawaii publishes for each case. You have to apply for almost all of them: none is applied on its own.
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If it is your main home
In Hawaii property tax is handled only by the counties, not the state. Each county decides its own exemptions for the home you live in and how to apply. Ask your county's Real Property tax office.
What the source says· Haw. Const. art. VIII, § 3
“The State Constitution does not prohibit or limit the power of taxation, and reserves all taxing power to the State, except to the extent delegated by the Legislature to the political subdivisions of the State and except all the functions, powers and duties related to real property taxation, which is exercised exclusively by the counties.”
Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance · Verified November 6, 2026
How it works
Where your bill comes from
The local government puts a value on your home, subtracts the exemptions you apply for and applies the rate of each body that taxes it: the county, the city, the school district and others.
- The value assigned to your home
- The exemptions you apply for
- The rates of each taxing body (county, city, schools)
- Your yearly bill
The effective rate on this page is something else: our estimate (typical tax ÷ typical value, from Census data) for comparing places. It is not the rate your local government sets.
Buying or selling
Taxes on the sale
Some states charge a tax or fee when the deed is recorded. What the official source says:
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State conveyance tax, by property value
The seller or other person transferring the property is generally the one subject to the conveyance tax. It is figured by multiplying the full price by a single rate set by value: 10 cents per $100 under $600,000; 20 cents from $600,000 to under $1 million; 30 cents from $1 to under $2 million; 50 cents from $2 to under $4 million; 70 cents from $4 to under $6 million; 90 cents from $6 to under $10 million; and $1 from $10 million up. When a house or condominium is sold to a buyer who is ineligible for the county homeowner's exemption, the rates are higher: 15 cents to $1.25 per $100.
Hawaii Department of Taxation (Instructions for Form P-64A, Rev. 2025) · Verified October 24, 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much is property tax in Hawaii?
The typical owner pays $2,239 a year, about 0.27% of the home’s value, per the Census (Average 2020–2024). Nationwide the effective rate is 0.94%. Your bill depends on your county, city, school district and the exemptions you claim.
What is the deadline to protest the assessment in Hawaii?
In Hawaii assessment appeals are handled by your county, not the state: each county sets the deadline and the board of review. Check your assessment notice or ask your county's Real Property tax office.
How do I apply for the homestead exemption in Hawaii?
In Hawaii property tax is handled only by the counties, not the state. Each county decides its own exemptions for the home you live in and how to apply. Ask your county's Real Property tax office.
When is property tax paid in Hawaii?
Bill and payment dates are set by each county, because in Hawaii only the counties collect property tax. Check your bill or your county's website.
Which county in Hawaii pays the most property tax?
By amount, the highest typical tax is in Honolulu County ($2,553) and the lowest in Hawaii County ($1,459). By effective rate, the highest is Hawaii County (0.28%) and the lowest Maui County (0.16%).
What is the effective rate?
The typical tax divided by the typical home value in the same place. It is our estimate from two Census medians, not the rate your local government sets; it is for comparing places.