Hawaii remains one of the most unique real estate markets in the United States — high cost of living, limited land, and strong demand from local families and military buyers. Because of this, VA loan limits here work differently than in most states and can have a huge impact on how much home you can buy with zero down.
Below is the most up-to-date breakdown of 2026 VA Loan Limits in Hawaii, including Honolulu County’s conforming limit, entitlement rules, jumbo thresholds, and example calculations to help you understand exactly where you stand.
2026 VA Loan Limit in Hawaii (Honolulu County)
$1,228,500
This is the 2026 conforming loan limit for Honolulu County, which the VA uses when calculating how much “zero-down power” you have if you do not have full entitlement.
If you have full entitlement, there is no VA loan limit — meaning you can buy at any price with $0 down as long as you qualify.
Full vs. Partial Entitlement (Easy Explanation)
Full Entitlement
You have full entitlement if:
- You’ve never used your VA loan
- You paid off a previous VA loan and sold the home
- Your previous VA loan was foreclosed/bankrupt, but benefits have since been restored
Result:
You can buy any price home with $0 down — no loan limit.
Partial Entitlement
You have partial entitlement if:
- You currently have a VA loan on another home
- You’ve defaulted before and have reduced entitlement
- You refinanced out of a VA loan, but still have entitlement tied up
Result:
Your zero-down limit depends on the county loan limit (in this case $1,228,500).
How to Calculate Your Zero-Down Buying Power (Partial Entitlement)
VA guarantees 25% of the loan amount above the county limit.
VA Formula:
(County Limit × 25%) − Entitlement Already Used = VA Guarantee Available
Then:
VA Guarantee Available × 4 = Max zero-down loan amount
Example Calculation
Let’s say:
- You used $150,000 of entitlement on a home in another state
- You want to buy in Honolulu County
Step 1 — Maximum guarantee based on county limit
$1,228,500 × 25% = $307,125
Step 2 — Subtract entitlement already used
$307,125 − $150,000 = $157,125 VA guarantee left
Step 3 — Multiply by 4 to get your zero-down limit
$157,125 × 4 = $628,500 max purchase price with $0 down
If you buy above that, you would need a small down payment only on the amount over your limit.
Why Hawaii Buyers Benefit Most from VA Loans
Zero down up to (or beyond) $1.2M
This is life-changing in a high-cost housing market.
No mortgage insurance
No PMI = lower monthly payment.
Higher DTI flexibility
Especially helpful for Hawaiʻi’s higher cost-of-living.
VA loans beat jumbo rates
VA loans in Honolulu frequently outperform conventional jumbo pricing.
Refinance anytime with the IRRRL
Simple, fast, no appraisal required.
VA Jumbo Loans in Hawaii
A “VA Jumbo Loan” simply means:
- The loan amount is above the county limit ($1,228,500)
- You still get VA loan perks
- You may still qualify with $0 down if you have full entitlement
Many active-duty buyers in Honolulu purchase $1.7M – $2.2M homes with VA financing.
2026 VA Loan Limits by Hawaii County
| County | 2026 Conforming Loan Limit |
|---|---|
| Honolulu | $1,228,500 |
| Maui | $1,063,200 |
| Kauaʻi | $1,006,250 |
| Hawaii (Big Island) | $747,500 |
Note
Only Honolulu, Maui, and Kauaʻi are considered “high-cost counties”, which increases the loan limit above the standard U.S. baseline.
Who This Guide Helps Most
- Active-duty service members PCS’ing to Oʻahu
- Veterans transitioning out of the military
- Reservists & National Guard
- Military families looking to upgrade
- Investors wanting to keep their first VA loan property
Hawaii’s VA loan rules can be confusing — especially with second-tier entitlement or buying a second VA home loan — but used correctly, they offer unmatched purchasing power.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 VA loan limit in Hawaii of $1,228,500 means veterans and active-duty buyers can compete in one of the country’s most expensive real estate markets — often with zero down and significantly lower payments than conventional options.
