In July 2024, Maj. Alexander J. Hanna, a U.S. Air Force C-17 pilot, received orders to move to Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam. He purchased a home in Ewa Beach, like many service members before him—only to be blindsided by a hidden trap in Honolulu’s property tax code.

While deployed on humanitarian and operational missions, Maj. Hanna missed an obscure September 30th filing deadline to apply for a homeowner exemption—something no one warned him about during the buying process. Neither his real estate agent, escrow officer, loan officer, nor the county informed him.

When he later asked for the exemption and correction, the City of Honolulu refused—even though he qualified for it from the moment he moved in.

Adding insult to injury, the city claims it “notified all homeowners by mail”—but cannot prove that Maj. Hanna ever received such notice. There was no certified mail, no delivery tracking, and no requirement for receipt confirmation. Meanwhile, Maj. Hanna was in temporary lodging or deployed nearly continuously. The city’s system places the burden of compliance on military families it knows are operationally impaired.

This is not good governance. It’s silent taxation—and it's costing him nearly $5,000. 

Why This Matters:

This isn’t just about one pilot. It’s about the thousands of military families who arrive in Hawaii every year—only to be punished for not knowing about rules no one told them about.

If Hawaii wants to host U.S. military installations, it must stop using silence and red tape to squeeze our troops.

We Demand:
1. Immediate reclassification of Maj. Hanna’s home from “Residential A” to “Residential”
2. Retroactive approval of his rightful exemption and refund of excess property tax
3. Mandatory notification of exemptions at escrow or title transfer
4. An extension of filing deadlines for newly arrived military members and automatic exemption for active-duty military PCS arrivals
5. Federal oversight and accountability for how Honolulu’s tax code harms military and off-island families

Stand With Our Military Families!
Sign this petition and demand that Honolulu stop weaponizing silence, technicalities, and narrow filing windows to overcharge those who protect our country.