Laws by state / Hawaii

Hawaii landlord and tenant rules

The figures that decide most disputes between Hawaii landlords and tenants, each with a calculator and the statute behind it.

Verified against the statutes 2026-10-22By RentByState Research

Rule	Hawaii	Statute	Tool
Maximum security deposit	1 month's rent, plus an optional pet deposit of up to 1 additional month's rent if the tenant keeps a pet (not for assistance animals)	HRS § 521-44	Deposit rules
Deposit return deadline	14 days after termination of the rental agreement, with written notice and itemization of any amounts retained; failure to meet the 14-day deadline forfeits the right to retain any part of the deposit	HRS § 521-44	Deposit rules
Interest on the deposit	Not required	HRS § 521-44
Maximum late fee	8% of monthly rent	HRS § 521-21(f)	Late fee calculator
Landlord notice, month-to-month	45 days	HRS § 521-71(a)-(b); § 521-21(d); § 521-68(a) as amended by Act 278 (SLH 2025)	Notice calculator
Tenant notice, month-to-month	28 days	HRS § 521-71(a)-(b); § 521-21(d); § 521-68(a) as amended by Act 278 (SLH 2025)	Notice calculator
Rent increase notice	45 days	HRS § 521-71(a)-(b); § 521-21(d); § 521-68(a) as amended by Act 278 (SLH 2025)	Notice calculator
Pay-or-quit notice	10 days	HRS § 521-71(a)-(b); § 521-21(d); § 521-68(a) as amended by Act 278 (SLH 2025)	Notice calculator
Rent increase cap	None statewide

Security deposits in Hawaii

Hawaii limits security deposits to 1 month's rent, plus an optional pet deposit of up to 1 additional month's rent if the tenant keeps a pet (not for assistance animals). The deposit must be returned 14 days after termination of the rental agreement, with written notice and itemization of any amounts retained; failure to meet the 14-day deadline forfeits the right to retain any part of the deposit. No interest is owed on the deposit under state law. Statute does not require interest on deposits. Wrongful retention: deposit plus up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus costs. The official capitol.hawaii.gov statute pages returned HTTP 403, so statute text was read from the Findlaw code mirror (labelled current through Jan. 1, 2025). No 2024-2026 changes to § 521-44 identified. Full deposit rules and move-out checklist.

Late fees in Hawaii

Hawaii caps late fees at 8% of the monthly rent. There is no statutory grace period, so the lease controls when the fee starts. Calculate the maximum fee.

Notice periods in Hawaii

A Hawaii landlord must give 45 days’ written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and a tenant must give 28 days. A rent increase needs 45 days’ notice. For nonpayment, the landlord must serve a 10-day notice to pay or quit before filing for eviction. Calculate the effective date of a notice.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Hawaii?

1 month's rent, plus an optional pet deposit of up to 1 additional month's rent if the tenant keeps a pet (not for assistance animals). Statute does not require interest on deposits. Wrongful retention: deposit plus up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus costs. The official capitol.hawaii.gov statute pages returned HTTP 403, so statute text was read from the Findlaw code mirror (labelled current through Jan. 1, 2025). No 2024-2026 changes to § 521-44 identified.

What is the maximum late fee for rent in Hawaii?

8% of monthly rent. Late charge may not exceed 8% of the amount of rent due. No statutory grace period.

How much notice does a landlord have to give a tenant to move out in Hawaii?

45 days’ written notice for a month-to-month tenancy. Landlord must give at least 45 days' written notice; tenant must give at least 28 days' written notice. 120 days if the unit is to be demolished or converted; 10 days for tenancies of less than month-to-month. Nonpayment: 10 calendar days' written notice (Act 278, SLH 2025, effective Feb. 5, 2026, replacing the former 5-business-day notice); the notice also goes to a free mediation center and, if the tenant schedules mediation within the 10 days, the landlord must wait 20 calendar days from receipt before filing. The mediation pilot is scheduled to sunset Feb. 4, 2028.

How long is a pay-or-quit notice in Hawaii?

10 days. The tenant can stop the eviction by paying the full amount within that time.