Increase your buying power in Hawaii
23 homebuyer assistance programs in Hawaii put grants, forgivable loans and special mortgages toward your down payment and closing costs, so your budget goes further. Add creative financing like seller credits and rate buydowns, and it stretches even more.
What 23 programs tell us about buying in Hawaii
The help is in the mortgage itself
8 of 23 Hawaii programs are special mortgages or rate buydowns. Only 2 are outright grants, among the lowest shares of free money we track.
Below-market homes are a major path
7 programs sell or hold homes under market price through HHFDC, community land trusts and Habitat partners.
Down payment loans run large
HHOC Mortgage lends up to $125,000 for down payment and closing costs; Honolulu’s $40,000 loan can be up to half forgiven.
How the help arrives · 23 programs
Award sizes · grants and loans with a dollar cap
Your award depends on income, price and location.
Who runs them
11 programs are available statewide. 12 are limited to a city, county or region, so the address you buy at changes what you can get.
More programs, more buying power. Most buyers qualify for more than one. The Wallet Wizard checks income limits, price caps and location rules across all 23 Hawaii programs and 3 multi-state programs at once, and shows where creative financing like seller credits can stack on top.
Check my eligibilityPrograms to know in Hawaii
A few of the 23 programs we track, chosen for reach, award size and terms. Amounts are program maximums; what you receive depends on income, price and location.
Down Payment Assistance Loan Program
Hawaii HomeOwnership Center Mortgage (HHOCM)Up to $125,000 for down payment and closing costs, for households up to 130% of area median income.
Mortgage Booster
Hawaii HomeOwnership Center MortgageUp to $50,000 at a fixed 3% rate, for households up to 120% of area median income.
Down Payment Loan Program
City and County of HonoluluA $40,000 loan toward down payment and closing costs, for households at or below 80% of area median income.
First-Time Home Buyer’s Down Payment Assistance
County of MauiUp to $30,000 for first-time buyers up to 140% of area median income.
NAHASDA Down Payment Assistance
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands$25,000 in forgivable funds, plus up to $20,000 more for eligible beneficiaries who meet added requirements.
Hale Kamaʻāina Mortgage Program
Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development CorporationBelow-market 30-year fixed rates for first-time buyers, with an optional 4% down payment loan at 1% simple interest.
3 multi-state programs also serve Hawaii
Offered by banks, credit unions and Federal Home Loan Banks in several states at once. Most are tied to that lender's own mortgage, so the lender you choose decides whether you can use them. The Wallet Wizard shows which ones you can pair.
FHLBank Des Moines Native American Homeownership Initiative
Forgivable loan · 13 states Check eligibilityFirst Citizens Bank Physician Mortgage Loan
Special mortgage · 23 states Check eligibilityThese are 3 of the 3 multi-state programs open to Hawaii buyers. See which ones you qualify for
See how much more home you can afford in Hawaii
- 1Answer a few questions in the Wallet WizardWhere you want to buy, household size, income range, job and military status.
- 2Get matched against every program we trackIncome limits, price caps, location rules and repayment terms, checked for you.
- 3Work with a pro who knows creative financingAgents and loan officers on Homebuyer Wallet see the same matches you do, and can layer in seller credits, lender credits and rate buydowns.
Every Hawaii program, matched to your buyer in seconds
Homebuyer Wallet gives professionals the full program record: income tables, price caps, approved lenders, provider contacts and application steps. Close the deals that stall on cash to close.
Hawaii homebuyer assistance FAQ
How much down payment assistance can I get in Hawaii?
It depends on where you buy and your household income. Among the 7 Hawaii programs we track that publish a dollar cap, the median award is $40,000. Others pay a percentage of the price or loan. The Wallet Wizard shows the amounts you could get for the home you want.
How do these programs increase my buying power?
Assistance covers part of your down payment or closing costs, or lowers your rate, so less of your own cash goes in upfront. The same savings and income can then support a higher purchase price or a lower monthly payment. Many buyers stack a statewide program with a local one to stretch further.
Can I combine these programs with seller credits or other creative financing?
Usually, yes. Seller credits toward closing costs, lender credits and rate buydowns can often be used alongside assistance programs, within your loan’s limits. The Wallet Wizard shows what fits together, and Homebuyer Wallet agents and loan officers can help you structure it.
Do I have to pay the assistance back?
2 of the 23 active programs (9%) are grants or forgivable loans: you repay nothing if you keep the home as your primary residence for the required period. 6 more are deferred or repayable second loans, due when you sell, refinance or move out, or paid monthly.
Do I need to be a first-time homebuyer?
Not always. 5 of the 23 Hawaii programs we track explicitly require first-time status, and most of those count anyone who has not owned a home in the past three years. The Wallet Wizard checks each program’s ownership rule for you.
Are there programs for teachers, first responders or other workers?
Yes. 4 programs we track in Hawaii are tied to a specific employer or profession, such as public employees, educators, first responders, healthcare workers or service members. Job-based programs often stack with income-based ones.
Can I combine more than one program?
Sometimes. Hawaii has 11 programs available statewide and 12 limited to a city, county or region. Many local programs are built to layer on top of a statewide loan; others prohibit stacking. Your lender confirms what combines with your first mortgage.
How do I find out which programs I qualify for?
Answer a few questions in the Wallet Wizard: where you want to buy, household size, income range and job. It checks income limits, price caps, location rules and funding status across every program we track in Hawaii, plus multi-state and national programs, and shows the ones that fit.
How current is this information?
Our team reviews every program against the provider’s own materials on a rolling basis. Funding opens and closes often; the Wallet Wizard shows each program’s current status.
Explore another state
All Top ProgramsSource: the Homebuyer Wallet database of 2,000+ Community Home Investment Programs (CHIPs). Each program is reviewed by our team against the provider’s own website and documents. Award amounts are program maximums.