Hawaii has 151 towns spread across four counties: Hawaii County, Honolulu County, Kauai County and Maui County. Each county has its own page on this site, so you can go from this overview to details closer to home.
This page covers the basics: which kind of stair lift fits which kind of staircase, who in the state tends to need one, and the three programs that can help pay for it. If you are helping a parent decide, or deciding for yourself, start here and then pick your county.
About 1,359,013 people live in Hawaii, and 20.1% of them are 65 or older. That is roughly one resident in five. For many of these families, the question is not whether to move but how to keep using the whole house.
Homeownership matters here too. 63.7% of Hawaii households own their home, which means they can usually approve an installation on their own. If you rent, the landlord will need to sign off before anything is mounted to the stairs.
A straight stair lift runs on a single rail along a staircase with no turns or landings. It is the simplest job and usually the quickest to install.
If your stairs turn, wrap around a landing or change direction, you need a curved lift. The rail is built to fit your exact staircase, so it takes measuring and more lead time.
Steps outside the house, such as entry steps up to a front door or lanai, call for an outdoor model built to handle the weather. For someone who uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer to a seat, a platform lift that carries the chair may be the better fit. A home visit tells you which one your home actually needs.
Hawaii residents have three main routes for help: Medicaid through Med-QUEST, a low-interest loan through ATRC, and VA benefits for veterans. Each one works differently, and the details are in the program list below.
Med-QUEST QUEST Integration (Going Home Plus) can cover a home stair lift as part of an approved service plan, with no fixed cap. The ATRC Assistive Technology Loan Program offers loans when you do not qualify for Medicaid or want to pay over time.
For them, the stair lift itself goes through VA Prosthetics, while the HISA grant pays for ramps and other structural changes. Knowing that split before you call saves a lot of back and forth.
We have pages for Hawaii County, Honolulu County, Kauai County and Maui County. Each one focuses on that county so you can see what applies where you live.
If you are not sure which county a town falls in, ask us when you call and we will point you to the right page.
Hawaii's managed Medicaid home and community based services benefit, run under a Medicaid 1115 waiver, which covers home stair lifts with no fixed cap; the amount depends on your approved service plan. Call (800) 316-8005.
A low-interest loan program that covers stair lifts and home access, with loan amounts and rates based on your qualification rather than a fixed grant cap. Call (808) 532-7112.
VA Prosthetics (PSAS) covers a medically prescribed stair lift with no set dollar cap, while the HISA grant covers ramps and structural changes, not the lift, up to $6,800 for service-connected or $2,000 for non-service-connected veterans. Call (877) 222-8387.
It can. Med-QUEST QUEST Integration (Going Home Plus) covers home stair lifts when they are part of an approved service plan, and there is no fixed cap. Call (800) 316-8005 to ask about eligibility.
No. HISA pays for ramps and structural changes, up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans or $2,000 for non-service-connected veterans. The stair lift itself goes through VA Prosthetics (PSAS) when it is medically prescribed. Call (877) 222-8387.
The ATRC Assistive Technology Loan Program offers low-interest loans for stair lifts and home access. Amounts and rates depend on your qualification. Call (808) 532-7112.
If your staircase is one straight run with no turns or landings, a straight lift usually works. Any turn or landing means a curved rail built for your stairs. A home measurement settles it.
Often, yes, but your landlord has to approve the installation first. Get that permission in writing before you schedule anything.
We have pages for Hawaii County, Honolulu County, Kauai County and Maui County. Open your county's page for details closer to home.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
