Military & Gray Divorce Specialist
Military retirement, federal pensions, real estate — Hawaii's equitable distribution requires expertise. This guide shows you exactly what you're entitled to.
Leanne Ozaine, CDFA® & CFP® | Specializing in military and gray divorce
Turn Panic Into Power — $97Your spouse spent 20+ years building a military or federal pension. You supported that career through every deployment, every PCS move, every sacrifice. Now you're facing divorce — and everyone has opinions about "your share." But here's what they won't tell you: military pensions, FERS benefits, TSP accounts, and Tricare eligibility all follow different rules. Miss one deadline, sign the wrong waiver, and you could lose benefits worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In Hawaii, you're not just dividing a pension — you're navigating the 10/10 rule, the 20/20/20 rule, DFAS requirements, Survivor Benefit Plan elections, and the "frozen benefit rule" for military retirement. Add Hawaii's sky-high cost of living, island real estate worth $1M+, and the question of whether you can even afford to stay in Hawaii post-divorce... and suddenly "getting half" means nothing if you don't know which half.
You need to understand exactly what you're entitled to — BEFORE you negotiate. The Fearless Divorce Guide breaks down military pension division, federal benefits, real estate equity, and Hawaii's equitable distribution laws in plain English. No legal jargon. No guessing. Just the clarity you need to protect your financial future.
If you're over 50 and facing divorce in Honolulu or anywhere on Oahu, you're navigating one of the most financially challenging divorce environments in America. This isn't just about dividing assets—it's about figuring out how to maintain any semblance of financial security in a place where median home prices exceed $1 million and the cost of living is 88% higher than the national average.
Many of our Oahu clients are dealing with a unique combination of circumstances: military pensions from decades of service at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Schofield Barracks, or Marine Corps Base Hawaii; tourism industry income from Waikiki hotels or North Shore activity businesses; and real estate that has appreciated 200-400% over the course of their marriage. Add Hawaii's 11% top income tax rate, and you have a perfect storm of financial complexity.
Why Honolulu is uniquely challenging: You may have significant assets on paper—a $1.2M home in Hawaii Kai, a military pension worth $800K in present value, retirement accounts built over 30 years—but converting those assets into actual post-divorce financial security in Honolulu requires sophisticated planning. Many of our clients are "asset rich, cash poor" and facing the brutal question: can I actually afford to stay in Hawaii after divorce?
The fear-to-strength progression: Right now, you might be terrified that divorce means leaving the islands you've called home for decades. That's a legitimate fear. But here's what we do together: we analyze every aspect of your financial situation, protect your military benefits, maximize your property division under Hawaii's partnership theory, and build a realistic post-divorce plan—whether that means staying in Hawaii or making a strategic move to the mainland.
Oahu is home to some of the most significant military installations in the Pacific: Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Schofield Barracks, Marine Corps Base Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay), and numerous other facilities. For gray divorce cases involving military families, pension division is often the single most important financial issue.
Critical military pension rules:
Hawaii-specific military consideration: Many military retirees choose to stay in Hawaii after retirement (despite the cost) because of the climate, lifestyle, and established community. This means your ex-spouse will likely remain on Oahu, which affects long-term planning, potential for modification, and enforcement of the divorce decree.
The situation: Sarah, age 52, married to a Navy Commander for 25 years. Her husband is retiring at age 47 with $4,500/month pension ($54K/year). They're divorcing after years of his deployments and her sacrificing career opportunities to raise their children and move 8 times during his career.
What Sarah is entitled to:
The financial value: Sarah's pension share alone is worth approximately $600,000-$800,000 in present value (depending on life expectancy calculations). Adding lifetime Tricare coverage ($10K-$15K/year value) and potential Social Security benefits, Sarah's total marital benefit package is worth well over $1 million. This is why proper documentation and legal protection of military benefits is absolutely critical.
Urban Honolulu—from Kakaako to Waikiki to Ala Moana—is dominated by high-rise condos that have appreciated dramatically over the past 20-30 years.
Unique considerations:
East Oahu communities—Hawaii Kai, Kailua, Kaneohe, and surrounding areas—represent some of the most desirable (and expensive) single-family home markets in Hawaii.
Key considerations:
Central Oahu represents more "affordable" (relative term in Hawaii!) family-oriented communities, often popular with military families and local residents.
Market dynamics:
North Shore (Haleiwa, Sunset Beach, Turtle Bay) and Windward Coast communities offer spectacular beauty—and spectacular prices.
Unique factors:
For most Oahu gray divorce cases, the family home represents the largest single asset. The keep-or-sell decision has life-altering consequences.
Option 1: Sell and split proceeds
Option 2: One spouse buys out the other
Option 3: Continue joint ownership temporarily
Honolulu's economy revolves around tourism. Waikiki hotels, restaurants, tour operations, activity businesses, and related services employ thousands of Oahu residents. If your spouse works in tourism—or worse, owns a tourism business—divorce valuation becomes complex.
Tourism industry divorce issues:
Real-world example: A client owns a successful catamaran tour business in Waikiki. Pre-COVID, the business grossed $800K/year with $250K in owner income. During COVID, revenue dropped to nearly zero. Now it's at $600K/year and recovering. How do we value this for divorce? Is it worth $1M (pre-COVID multiple), $400K (COVID-impacted valuation), or somewhere in between? This requires expert business valuation and financial analysis.
If you're divorcing between ages 50-65, healthcare coverage is a critical concern. Hawaii's healthcare costs are high, and losing access to your spouse's coverage can be financially devastating.
If you qualify for 20/20/20: You keep full Tricare coverage for life—this is worth $10,000-$15,000+ per year
If you qualify for 20/20/15: You keep Tricare for one year post-divorce—use this time to secure other coverage
If you don't qualify: You'll need COBRA (expensive) or marketplace insurance (also expensive in Hawaii)
COBRA coverage: Allows you to continue your ex-spouse's employer coverage for 18-36 months, but at full cost (often $800-$1,500/month for individual coverage in Hawaii)
Hawaii Health Connector: State marketplace for individual health insurance—premiums for 50+ adults often run $600-$1,200/month depending on plan and subsidies
The Medicare countdown: Every month between divorce and age 65 (Medicare eligibility) costs you $600-$1,500 in healthcare premiums. If you're divorcing at age 55, that's 10 years = $72,000-$180,000 in healthcare costs. This MUST be factored into settlement negotiations.
Honolulu consistently ranks as one of the most expensive cities in America. Here's what it actually costs to live here as a single person over 50:
Monthly expenses for modest lifestyle (single person):
TOTAL MONTHLY: $5,100-$9,200
TOTAL ANNUAL: $61,200-$110,400
The sobering question: After taxes, spousal support (if any), and other obligations, will you have $61K-$110K per year to live on? If not, can you realistically afford to stay in Honolulu?
For many gray divorce clients in Honolulu, the hardest question isn't legal or financial—it's emotional: Do I need to leave Hawaii to achieve financial security?
Reasons to consider relocating to the mainland:
Reasons to fight to stay in Hawaii:
Our approach: We run the numbers HONESTLY. We don't make the emotional decision for you, but we do show you the realistic financial picture of staying vs. relocating. Then you can make an informed choice based on both heart and head.
If you live in Waikiki, Kakaako, Ala Moana, or downtown Honolulu, your divorce likely involves:
Key question: Is your urban Honolulu lifestyle sustainable on one income, or does divorce necessitate moving to a less expensive area of Oahu (or the mainland)?
Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, and surrounding areas represent suburban living with ocean views—and premium prices. Divorce considerations include:
Kailua, Kaneohe, and Windward Oahu are popular with military families due to proximity to MCBH. Divorce issues often involve:
Divorce cases in Honolulu are handled by the First Circuit Court of Hawaii (Family Court Division). Understanding local court procedures and judicial expectations helps achieve better outcomes.
First Circuit Family Court considerations:
The 5-step system that shows you what you'll actually live on, so you stop guessing and start knowing.
Calculate your real post-divorce income — including military pension shares, federal benefits, and earning potential — so you negotiate from facts, not fear.
Document gathering checklists tell you exactly what to bring to your attorney — including military records, DFAS forms, and benefit statements.
Map out your real expenses as a single person — before you fight for island real estate you can't actually maintain on one income.
Military pensions, Tricare eligibility, SBP coverage, TSP accounts — know exactly what's marital property and what's protected.
22-page guide + video tutorials + checklists + templates
$97
Instant access. 100% money-back guarantee.
Get the Clarity You Need — $97Military pensions, federal benefits, Hawaii real estate — the financial decisions you make now will shape the rest of your life. Get the clarity you need before you sign anything.
Turn Panic Into Power — $97 Have Questions? Contact Us