*Federal government and military travelers to Hawaii in 2026 can expect to receive the same per diem rate allowance as last year.*
2026 Hawaii per diem rates at a glance
Below are the current 2026 per diem rates for the major Hawaii localities most TDY travelers use. These rates are shown as year-round (01/01–12/31) in the table for Hawaii localities (as displayed in the DTMO OCONUS rate table). Every October 1st, the start of the new fiscal year for the federal government, the Hawaii Per Diem Rates reset.
How to read this:
Max Per Diem = Max Lodging (night) + Meals (local) + Incidentals (local).
| TDY destination (locality) | Max lodging (per night) | Meals (local, per day) | Incidentals (local, per day) | Total M&IE (per day) | Max per diem (per day) | Proportional meals (PMR)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oahu (incl. Honolulu) | $202 | $130 | $33 | $163 | $365 | $74 |
| Maui | $354 | $122 | $31 | $153 | $507 | $70 |
| Kauai | $350 | $132 | $33 | $165 | $515 | $75 |
| Island of Hawaii – Hilo | $199 | $117 | $29 | $146 | $345 | $68 |
| Island of Hawaii – locations other than Hilo | $242 | $144 | $36 | $180 | $422 | $81 |
| Lanai | $242 | $130 | $33 | $163 | $405 | $74 |
| Molokai | $242 | $130 | $33 | $163 | $405 | $74 |
| “All places not listed” (Hawaii) | $242 | $130 | $33 | $163 | $405 | $74 |
*PMR = Proportional Meal Rate.
*PMR = “Proportional Meal Rate” (explained below).
Source: DTMO
What is Per Diem?
Per diem is the daily allowance for lodging, meals, and incidentals while traveling on official government orders. Military and federal civil service employees on official government travel orders receive a daily travel allowance at the federal per diem rate for each specific island (and sometimes in the particular city).
Who sets Hawaii per diem rates (and why it matters)
Because Hawaii is a non-foreign OCONUS location, its per diem rates are prescribed through the Defense Travel Management Office (not the General Services Administration, which covers the continental U.S.).
- General Services Administration sets per diem for CONUS (the contiguous 48 states + DC).
- Department of State sets per diem for foreign locations and updates them monthly.
- Defense Travel Management Office prescribes per diem for non-foreign OCONUS locations (including Hawaii) and updates rates monthly or as needed.
That’s why the Hawaii per diem rate calculation is different from the rest of the U.S., even though it’s a U.S. state.
Understanding what per diem actually pays
Per diem is usually discussed in two buckets:
1) Lodging (nightly cap)
- Lodging is reimbursed based on your actual lodging cost, up to the maximum lodging rate for your locality.
- If you find lodging below the cap, you don’t “keep the difference” on lodging. Lodging is essentially use-it-or-lose-it.
2) Meals & Incidentals (M&IE)
M&IE is your daily allowance for food plus small incidental costs (tips, etc.). Unlike lodging, M&IE is generally paid as the authorized daily amount—unless your travel orders require reductions (like government meals).
The meals piece: Local meal rate vs. GMR vs. PMR
Most confusion in Hawaii TDY reimbursement comes from which meal rate applies on a given day.
Local meal rate (full rate)
This is the “normal” daily meals amount for your locality (e.g., Oahu is $130/day for meals).
Government Meal Rate (GMR)
The Department of Defense publishes a standard Government Meal Rate used when a traveler is directed to eat at a government dining facility (typically when government quarters and meals are available and directed).
Proportional Meal Rate (PMR)
PMR applies when one or two government meals are available/provided (or when a deductible meal is included in something like a conference fee), on days that are not the first or last day of travel.
DTMO describes PMR as the average of the government meal rate and the locality meal rate (and you’ll see PMR values listed right alongside the locality rates like $74 for Oahu).
The 75% rule for travel days (first and last day)
On your departure day and return day, travelers receive 75% of the applicable M&IE rate with no exceptions/waivers.
Two key details that matter for Hawaii TDY:
- The 75% rule applies regardless of departure/return time.
- The Government Meal Rate (GMR) and Proportional Meal Rate (PMR) do not apply on the first and last day of travel.
Example (Oahu):
- Full daily M&IE = $130 meals + $33 incidentals = $163/day.
- Travel-day M&IE = 75% × $163 = $122.25 (your system may round per its rules).
Lodging taxes in Hawaii: are they “inside” the lodging cap?
For CONUS and non-foreign OCONUS (including Hawaii), DoD travel guidance states that room costs and lodging taxes are separate reimbursements. Lodging taxes are treated as a miscellaneous reimbursable expense, calculated on the actual room cost (or the lodging per diem cap, whichever is less).
Taxes are significant in Hawaii, where hotel taxes and mandatory fees can add up fast, so keep clean, itemized receipts. For contrast: foreign OCONUS locations generally treat lodging taxes as part of the lodging cost and keep everything within the lodging ceiling.)
On-base lodging and incidentals: watch for the $3.50 rule
If you’re TDY OCONUS (including Hawaii) and you’re lodged on a U.S. installation in government quarters at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam Lodging, DoD guidance notes the incidental expense allowance is $3.50/day (unless the authorizing official determines the higher locality incidental rate is needed and specifies it in the orders).
So if you’re staying on-base, your “headline” Hawaii incidental rate (like $33/day on Oahu) may not automatically apply, your authorization matters.
Sample calculation: 5-day TDY to Honolulu (4 lodging nights)
This is a simple example to help you budget. Always follow what’s on your travel authorization.
Assumptions
- Location: Honolulu / Oahu Fort Shafter Army Lodging
- 5 travel days total (Day 1 fly in, Days 2–4 full days, Day 5 fly out)
- 4 lodging nights at the TDY location
Rates (Oahu)
- Max lodging: $202/night
- M&IE (full day): $163/day
- M&IE (travel day): 75% × $163 = $122.25
Budget view
- Lodging: up to 4 × $202 = $808 (plus reimbursable lodging taxes)
- M&IE:
- Day 1: $122.25
- Days 2–4: 3 × $163 = $489
- Day 5: $122.25
- M&IE total ≈ $733.50
If breakfast is included in your lodging rate or conference fee, or government meals are directed/available, your AO may apply PMR/GMR rules on full days (but not on travel days).
Tips to stay within (or close to) per diem in Hawaii
- Confirm your exact locality (island/city) before you book. Maui and Kauai lodging ceilings are dramatically higher than Oahu, and the Island of Hawaii can vary between Hilo and other areas.
- Book early if you need to stay near the lodging ceiling—inventory that fits per diem on Hawaii military base lodging facilities can disappear quickly.
- Track the difference between lodging and M&IE. Lodging reimburses actuals (up to the cap), while M&IE is a daily allowance that can change depending on meal availability and what’s directed in your orders.
- Keep lodging receipts (including taxes). For Hawaii (non-foreign OCONUS), taxes are reimbursed separately from the room rate.
- Re-check rates right before travel. DTMO notes that non-foreign OCONUS rates (including Hawaii) can be updated monthly or as necessary.
How to verify your 2026 Hawaii rate (best practice)
Even when you have a “2026 rates” chart saved, it’s smart to verify the official table for your travel dates because updates can occur.
Use the DTMO Per Diem Rate Lookup and select:
- Foreign & Non-Foreign OCONUS
- Country/State = Hawaii
- Your locality (island/city)
- The applicable publication date
Need Per Diem Rate Lodging in Honolulu, Hawaii?
If you’re traveling TDY to Honolulu/Oahu and want an extended-stay setup like a furnished apartment in Honolulu (kitchen, in-unit laundry options, more space than a typical hotel room) at or near the government lodging rate, TDY Lodging specializes in furnished condos in Waikiki for military, federal, and corporate travelers.