Hawaii Student Loan Forgiveness Programs
Hawaii offers three student loan repayment assistance programs, all for people who work in health care or public health. HELP matters most because it covers more than 40 professions, from physicians to nurse aides, anywhere in the state as long as your employer serves enough publicly insured patients. The 2026 teacher loan bill died in the Senate, so teachers, lawyers, and everyone else should start with federal forgiveness programs.
Hawaii Programs At A Glance
| Program | Who Qualifies | Maximum Award | Service Required | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program (HELP) | Licensed or certified health care workers in 40-plus professions | $50,000/year full-time primary care and behavioral health; $25,000/year other full-time roles; $12,500/year residents | 2 years full-time or half-time in Hawaii at a site with at least 30% public insurance | Annual Cycle |
| Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program (HSLRP) | Primary care, dental, and behavioral health providers | Not published; the site or a donor matches half the award | 2 years at a public or nonprofit site in a shortage area | Annual Cycle |
| Give Back, Get Back (GB>GB) | Public health workers with at least 1 year in Hawaii's public health workforce | $25,000 | 2 years full-time at a Hawaii public health organization | Open |
Programs That Help Repay Loans You Already Have
Hawaii borrowers carry roughly $36,900 in federal student debt on average, according to our Hawaii student loans and financial aid breakdown. These programs send money toward that debt once you're working in a qualifying job. Compare them against Public Service Loan Forgiveness, since nonprofit hospitals, community health centers, and state agencies all count as PSLF employers.
Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program (HELP)
HELP pays up to $50,000 a year to full-time primary care and behavioral health providers anywhere in Hawaii, and to full-time physician, physician assistant, and advanced practice nurse specialists in rural areas (Hawaii/Pacific Basin AHEC FAQ). Half-time providers in those groups and full-time workers in other eligible professions can receive up to $25,000 a year, and residents and fellows who commit to practice in Hawaii can receive up to $12,500 a year. Our roundup of student loan forgiveness for doctors shows how that stacks up against federal awards.
The legislature appropriated $30 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 and another $30 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and the program has assisted 928 health care professionals (HB 1574 text). HB 1574, which would have written HELP into state law and required three years of service for awards above $50,000, died in conference in April 2026 (LegiScan), so the two-year commitment still applies. Nurses on the eligible list should also compare the federal options in our nursing student loan forgiveness roundup.
| Administered by | Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, funded by the Hawaii State Legislature |
| Who qualifies | Health care workers licensed or certified to practice in Hawaii in more than 40 professions, including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, nurse aides, dentists, dental hygienists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, pharmacists, therapists, technicians, EMTs, and paramedics (AHEC HELP page) |
| Award | Up to $50,000 a year (Tier 1), $25,000 a year (Tier 2), or $12,500 a year (Tier 3), based on profession, hours, and location |
| Commitment | At least two years of full-time or half-time service in Hawaii; only unsupervised direct patient care after residency or fellowship counts toward the two years |
| Restrictions | Your practice must bill at least 30% of its claims to public insurance, such as Medicaid (QUEST), Medicare, TRICARE, or the VA |
| Status | The most recent application deadline was July 17, 2026; AHEC hasn't posted the next window |
| Official source | AHEC HELP page |
Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program (HSLRP)
HSLRP is a federally funded grant that pays educational loans for primary care, dental, and behavioral health providers who work at eligible sites in Hawaii's Health Professional Shortage Areas (Hawaii Department of Health). The employer site or another donor must put up matching funds equal to half the award, and AHEC doesn't publish a fixed dollar amount (AHEC HSLRP page). Providers at nonprofit community health centers can count the same years toward PSLF for medical group workers.
| Administered by | Hawaii/Pacific Basin AHEC, with the Hawaii Department of Health Office of Primary Care and Rural Health |
| Who qualifies | Physicians in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB-GYN, geriatrics, or psychiatry; dentists, dental therapists, and dental hygienists; nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, registered nurses, and physician assistants; psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, and master's-level substance abuse counselors |
| Eligible sites | Public or nonprofit sites in a shortage area, including federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, critical access hospitals, community mental health centers, free clinics, and state or county health departments |
| Commitment | Two years of service at an HSLRP site |
| Status | Active federal grant; AHEC doesn't publish a deadline or award amount |
| Official source | AHEC HSLRP page |
Give Back, Get Back Education Loan Repayment Program (GB>GB)
GB>GB pays up to $25,000 toward the student loans of public health workers who commit to two more years of full-time work at a Hawaii public health organization (Hawaii Public Health Institute). The Hawaii Department of Health funds the program, and the Hawaii Public Health Institute runs it. Government and nonprofit public health jobs also count toward PSLF, so track both.
| Administered by | Hawaii Public Health Institute, funded by the Hawaii State Department of Health |
| Who qualifies | Hawaii residents with student loan debt who have worked at least one year in Hawaii's public health workforce; Round 1 recipients can't apply again |
| Eligible employers | Government and nonprofit public health organizations, including health departments, clinics, mental health organizations, laboratories, environmental health agencies, human services providers, and hospitals (population-level roles only) |
| Award | Up to $25,000, paid directly to the lender; the program doesn't guarantee every approved applicant the full amount |
| Commitment | Two years of full-time service at a Hawaii public health organization |
| Deadline | Round 2 applications close September 30, 2026, at 5 p.m. HST |
| Official source | Give Back, Get Back |
Federal Forgiveness Options For Hawaii Borrowers
Federal programs reach far more Hawaii borrowers than the three state programs, and each one runs on its own rules for combining with a state award. Our full list of forgiveness programs covers every federal option.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Borrowers who make 120 qualifying payments while working full time for a government agency or qualifying nonprofit get their remaining Direct Loan balance forgiven tax-free (StudentAid.gov). Hawaii Department of Education teachers, state and county employees, and University of Hawaii staff all work for qualifying employers, and our PSLF breakdown covers the 2026 employer rule litigation.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Teachers with five consecutive years at a low-income school can receive up to $17,500 if they teach secondary math, science, or special education, or up to $5,000 in other subjects (StudentAid.gov). Hawaii has no state teacher loan program, so this and PSLF are the main routes, and our teacher forgiveness breakdown explains why the same years can't count toward both.
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) and IBR. RAP launched July 1, 2026, and forgives any remaining balance after 360 qualifying payments (How RAP Works). Borrowers deciding between plans can run the numbers in our RAP vs. IBR comparison.
Health care programs. The National Health Service Corps pays full-time primary care providers up to $75,000 for a two-year commitment in its 2026 cycle, or $80,000 with a $5,000 Spanish-language enhancement (HRSA). Nurse Corps pays 60% of nursing debt for two years of service and another 25% for a third year (HRSA), and the STAR program pays up to $250,000 for six years in substance use disorder treatment (HRSA). Our nursing and health care forgiveness roundup covers eligibility for each.
Lawyers. Hawaii has no state-funded attorney loan program, but the Department of the Attorney General distributes federal John R. Justice awards to prosecutors and public defenders, with a $10,000 annual cap and a three-year service agreement in its most recent posted round (Hawaii Department of the Attorney General). Government attorneys should also track PSLF, which has no dollar cap.
Veterinarians. Hawaii has no state veterinary loan repayment program, but the USDA Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program pays up to $25,000 a year for service in designated shortage areas (USDA NIFA). Vets carrying private loans should also check our list of private student loan forgiveness options.
Is Student Loan Forgiveness Taxed In Hawaii?
Hawaii ties its income tax to the federal Internal Revenue Code as of a fixed date, and Act 35 of 2026 moved that date to December 31, 2025, for tax years beginning in 2026 (Hawaii Department of Taxation). Our state taxes on student loan forgiveness tracker still lists Hawaii's older conformity date. PSLF, Teacher Loan Forgiveness, and death and disability discharges stay tax-free at both levels.
Forgiveness under income-driven plans became federally taxable again on January 1, 2026, when the American Rescue Plan exclusion expired (Taxes And Student Loan Forgiveness). The Department of Taxation's summary of Act 35 lists no separate Hawaii rule for student loan forgiveness, so expect Hawaii to follow the federal treatment and ask a tax preparer before filing. Borrowers expecting IBR or RAP forgiveness can estimate the bill with our student loan tax bomb calculator.
AHEC says HELP awards aren't subject to Hawaii income tax for recipients who meet all program requirements (AHEC HELP FAQ). Ask the administering agency how other awards will be reported, and read our explainer on the 1099-C and student loan forgiveness before filing.
If Your Job Isn't Covered
Borrowers outside health care and public health won't find a Hawaii program, but three options remain. Employers can pay up to $5,250 a year toward your student loans tax-free, and our list of companies that offer student loan repayment assistance shows who offers it.
Borrowers with private loans or high-rate federal loans they don't plan to have forgiven can lower their rate through student loan refinancing. Refinancing federal loans into a private loan ends eligibility for PSLF, RAP, and IBR, so don't refinance a balance you expect to have forgiven.
Families with leftover 529 money can put up to $10,000 per beneficiary toward student loans, which our 529 plan for student loan repayment explainer covers. Hawaii savers should also read our review of HI529, Hawaii's College Savings Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hawaii Have A Student Loan Forgiveness Program?
Hawaii offers student loan repayment assistance programs rather than broad loan forgiveness. It runs three loan repayment programs for health care and public health workers. Borrowers outside those fields rely on federal programs like PSLF and income-driven plan forgiveness.
Does Hawaii Help Teachers Repay Student Loans?
Not yet. HB 1811 would have paid public school educators up to $25,000 after five consecutive years of full-time service, but it stalled in the Senate Education Committee in 2026 (LegiScan). Hawaii teachers can still use the federal programs in our teacher forgiveness breakdown.
How Much Can Hawaii Doctors And Nurses Get Toward Their Student Loans?
Full-time primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants can receive up to $50,000 a year through HELP, and full-time registered nurses and other eligible professionals can receive up to $25,000 a year (AHEC HELP FAQ). Federal NHSC and Nurse Corps awards are covered in our nursing forgiveness roundup.
Is Student Loan Forgiveness Taxable In Hawaii?
PSLF and Teacher Loan Forgiveness are tax-free in Hawaii, and HELP awards are excluded from Hawaii income tax. Hawaii's 2026 conformity update points to income-driven plan forgiveness being taxable like it is federally, so read our state tax tracker and confirm with a tax preparer.
Related Hawaii Resources
How We Sourced This Data
Program details on this page come from the administering agencies and state records: the Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, the Hawaii Department of Health Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, the Hawaii Department of Taxation, and 2026 bill text for HB 1574 and HB 1811 from the Hawaii State Legislature, with bill status tracked on LegiScan. Federal program details come from StudentAid.gov, HRSA, and USDA NIFA, and teacher bill coverage was cross-checked against the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Read more about how we fact-check and update content.
Page refreshed annually in August, after Hawaii's legislative session and agency rule approvals, and reviewed in January for tax season. Last full refresh: September 23, 2026.
Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Claire Tak