Hawaii

Hawaii Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notices, rent control, and more for Hawaii.

How we research these summaries

Every rule on this page is drawn from state statutes and municipal codes and summarized with AI assistance. Each one cites the statute it's based on and links to a published text of that law so you can read it firsthand. Where a page says a city or county has no local rule on a topic, that means none was found for the topics covered here — not that none exists. Local governments also regulate rental housing in ways these pages don't track, including registration, licensing, inspections and habitability standards. These summaries may be incomplete or out of date, laws change often, and every property and tenancy has specifics a summary can't capture — so treat this as a starting point for your own research, not as legal advice, and check with the local jurisdiction and a qualified attorney before acting on your particular situation.

What to Know in Hawaii

Sources last checked July 2026

Hawaii is running a two-year mediation pilot for nonpayment evictions: under Act 278, effective February 2026 through February 2028, a landlord's pay-or-terminate notice must give a tenant at least 10 calendar days, up from 5 business days, with a copy sent to a state-funded mediation center. If the tenant requests mediation within that window, the landlord must wait 20 calendar days before filing for possession. Outside eviction, Hawaii sets no cap on rent increases, only a 45-day notice requirement. Deposits are capped at one month's rent, plus one month for a pet.

10-day notice required before eviction for nonpayment of rent
5-day written notice to vacate required before eviction
28-day move-out notice required for month-to-month tenancies

3 rules summarized · Each linked to the law it cites

Eviction Notice Requirements

What are the eviction notice requirements in Hawaii?

For nonpayment of rent, HRS § 521-68 requires the landlord to give the tenant written notice that the rental agreement will terminate unless rent is paid. Under Act 278 (a two-year pilot running February 5, 2026 through February 4, 2028) that notice period is at least 10 calendar days after the tenant receives it (previously 5 business days), and the landlord must send a copy of the notice to a state-funded mediation center. If the tenant requests mediation within the 10-day window, the landlord must wait 20 calendar days from the tenant’s receipt of the notice before filing for possession.

HRS § 521-68 (as amended by Act 278, SLH 2025)

Last checked Jul 2026

Eviction Notice Requirements

What are the eviction notice requirements in Hawaii?

A landlord may, any time after rent is due, demand payment and notify the tenant in writing that unless payment is made within a time stated in the notice, not less than 5 business days after receipt, the rental agreement will be terminated. If the tenant cannot be served with notice as required, notice may be given by posting in a conspicuous place on the dwelling unit.

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68

Last checked Jul 2026

Move-Out & Lease Termination Notice

What is the move-out notice requirement in Hawaii?

For month-to-month tenancies, HRS § 521-71 requires a landlord to give at least 45 days’ written notice to terminate the tenancy, while a tenant must give at least 28 days’ written notice. For fixed-term leases, the lease end date serves as termination unless the agreement provides otherwise.

HRS § 521-71

Last checked Jul 2026

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