Eleven More Plate Legends Beyond Gold Star
HRS 249-9.2 provides twelve qualifying categories of military special number plate. The corpus records one. The others are the basic VETERAN plate, plus COMBAT, COMBAT WOUNDED, PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR, FORMER POW, and separate legends for Second World War, Korea, Vietnam and Persian Gulf veterans. They are issued for a fee at standard registration cost, through county motor vehicle registration offices.
Verified August 27, 2026
What this benefit is
HRS 249-9.2 provides twelve qualifying categories of military special number plate. The corpus records one. The others are the basic VETERAN plate, plus COMBAT, COMBAT WOUNDED, PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR, FORMER POW, and separate legends for Second World War, Korea, Vietnam and Persian Gulf veterans. They are issued for a fee at standard registration cost, through county motor vehicle registration offices.
What it's worth: Special military-service plates at standard registration cost
- The statute provides twelve qualifying categories. Beyond Gold Star, the legends are VETERAN, COMBAT, COMBAT WOUNDED, PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR, FORMER POW, and separate legends for Second World War, Korea, Vietnam and Persian Gulf veterans.
- The plates are issued FOR A FEE at standard registration cost. This is recognition rather than a fee waiver, so no saving is claimed.
- Discharge documentation is required per the statute.
- They are issued through county directors of finance at motor vehicle registration offices, so the counter differs by island.
- The basic VETERAN plate is the one most veterans are looking for and it is on this list.
Who is entitled to it
- You served in the U.S. armed forces.
- You register a vehicle in Hawaii.
Not sure whether that describes you?
Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.
How to claim it
- 1Apply at your county motor vehicle registration office, not to a state agency — the counties issue these.
- 2Ask for the legend by name. There are twelve and asking for 'the veteran plate' may get you a different one.
- 3Take discharge documentation as the statute requires.
- 4Expect to pay standard registration cost. These plates are recognition; they carry no fee waiver.
- Form
- County motor vehicle registration application
- File with
- Your county motor vehicle registration office
- Documents you will need
- dd214
- Annual
- Claimed once a year.
Sources
- authority · published policyHawaii Office of Veterans' Services — benefits and services (HRS 249-9.2)
- operating · published policyHawaii Office of Veterans' Services
This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.