Taxes in Pearl City
Pearl City's tax picture follows Hawaii's real, distinctive statewide structure: the nation's lowest effective property tax rate, a General Excise Tax that is legally not a sales tax, and a genuinely high, 12-bracket income tax.
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Learn moreThe nation's lowest effective property tax rate, with real nuance
Hawaii's statewide effective property tax rate runs approximately 0.27%, the lowest of any US state, though Oahu's own NOMINAL owner-occupied residential rate ($3.50/$1,000 assessed value) is a different, larger-looking kind of number reflecting the county's assessment and exemption methodology.
Oahu's 4.5% combined General Excise Tax
Oahu's combined GET rate has run 4.5% (4.0% base plus Honolulu County's 0.5% surcharge) since January 1, 2007.
A genuinely high, 12-bracket income tax
Hawaii taxes income across 12 brackets from 1.4% up to an 11% top rate on income above $200,000 (single) or $400,000 (married filing jointly) for 2026.
Key takeaways
- Hawaii's statewide effective property tax rate (~0.27%) is the nation's lowest, though Oahu's nominal rate looks different by design.
- Oahu's combined GET rate runs 4.5%, in effect since 2007.
- Hawaii's 2026 income tax runs 12 brackets, 1.4% to an 11% top rate.
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