Hawaii · Evictions · Updated Oct 2026

Hawaii eviction rules for tenants

The notices a landlord in Hawaii must give, how long you have to respond in court, why a lockout is illegal and where to get free legal help fast.

Short answer

From February 5, 2026: a 10-calendar-day written notice to pay.

Notice for unpaid rent: 10 days
Time to respond in court: Not stated in the code or handbook reviewed.
Lockouts: Banned

If you get an eviction notice

Read it closely: the kind of notice, the amount, the dates and how it was delivered. Use the timeline below.
Don't move out or stop paying because of a notice alone. Only a court can order an eviction; the notice is the first step.
Get free legal help now. Legal aid and the court's self-help center can check whether the notice is valid.
If you are served with court papers, respond by the deadline and go to every hearing. Missing one can mean losing by default.
Keep copies of the notice, your lease, rent receipts, texts and photos.

Eviction in Hawaii

Notice for unpaid rent: From February 5, 2026: a 10-calendar-day written notice to pay. The notice is sent to a state-funded mediation center too. If you schedule mediation within 10 days, the landlord cannot file until 20 days after you received the notice (pilot program through February 4, 2028; the 10-day notice period stays after that). A posted notice counts as received the day it is posted; a mailed notice, 2 business days after the postmark.
Notice for a lease violation: Written notice giving at least 10 days to fix the problem (HRS §§ 521-69, 521-72, per OCP Handbook).
Ending a month-to-month tenancy: Landlord: at least 45 days' written notice (120 days if the landlord plans demolition, condo conversion or vacation-rental conversion). Tenant: at least 28 days' written notice. Less than month-to-month: 10 days. HRS § 521-71.
Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit: Not stated in the code or handbook reviewed. Go to the court hearing (return date) on the summons; Hawaii courts handle summary possession at a first hearing.
Lockouts and utility shutoffs: Yes. If the landlord removes or locks you out overnight without cause or a court order, you can get back in or end the lease and recover two months' rent (or two months' free occupancy) plus costs and attorney fees (§ 521-63(c)). Cutting off water, hot water, electricity, gas or another essential service to force you out is an unfair and deceptive practice, with minimum damages of 3 times the monthly rent or $1,000, whichever is greater (§ 521-74.5).
Court self-help: The court's eviction self-help page
Law: HRS §§ 521-63, 521-68 (as amended by Act 278, SLH 2025), 521-71, 521-74.5

Eviction notice timeline for Hawaii

Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.

This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.

Where to get free help in Hawaii

Retaliation in Hawaii

As long as you keep paying rent, the landlord may not evict you, raise rent or cut services after you complain in good faith to the health department, landlord, building department, Office of Consumer Protection or another agency about code violations, after an agency files a violation notice, or after you request repairs under §§ 521-63 or 521-64. The statute sets no time limit. Exceptions include waste or nuisance, the landlord or family moving in, major renovation, sale, or a termination notice given before your complaint. If you are wrongly forced out, you can recover your damages plus court costs and attorney fees. HRS § 521-74.

Rent increases and rent control in Hawaii

Notice of a rent increase: Month-to-month: at least 45 consecutive days' written notice. Less than month-to-month: 15 days. Rent cannot be raised during a fixed-term lease unless the lease allows it. HRS § 521-21(d)-(e).
Rent control: No statewide rent cap or rent control.

Questions about eviction in Hawaii

How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Hawaii?

From February 5, 2026: a 10-calendar-day written notice to pay. The notice is sent to a state-funded mediation center too. If you schedule mediation within 10 days, the landlord cannot file until 20 days after you received the notice (pilot program through February 4, 2028; the 10-day notice period stays after that). A posted notice counts as received the day it is posted; a mailed notice, 2 business days after the postmark.

How much notice for a lease violation in Hawaii?

Written notice giving at least 10 days to fix the problem (HRS §§ 521-69, 521-72, per OCP Handbook).

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Hawaii?

Landlord: at least 45 days' written notice (120 days if the landlord plans demolition, condo conversion or vacation-rental conversion). Tenant: at least 28 days' written notice. Less than month-to-month: 10 days. HRS § 521-71.

How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Hawaii?

Not stated in the code or handbook reviewed. Go to the court hearing (return date) on the summons; Hawaii courts handle summary possession at a first hearing.

Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Hawaii?

Yes. If the landlord removes or locks you out overnight without cause or a court order, you can get back in or end the lease and recover two months' rent (or two months' free occupancy) plus costs and attorney fees (§ 521-63(c)). Cutting off water, hot water, electricity, gas or another essential service to force you out is an unfair and deceptive practice, with minimum damages of 3 times the monthly rent or $1,000, whichever is greater (§ 521-74.5).

More for Hawaii renters

Eviction in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.