Hawaii Eviction Notice

Types of Hawaii Eviction Notices

In Hawaii, landlords must use specific eviction notice forms based on the reason for eviction. The main types of eviction notices include:

5-Day Notice to Quit

• Grounds: Non-payment of rent or nuisance.
• Details: Tenants have 5 days to pay the rent or vacate the property.

10-Day Notice to Comply or Vacate

• Grounds: Non-compliance with lease terms.
• Details: Tenants have 10 days to correct the violation or leave the property.

Immediate Notice to Vacate

• Grounds: Incurable lease violations (e.g., substantial property damage).
• Details: Tenants must vacate immediately without the option to correct the issue.

45-Day Notice to Vacate

• Grounds: Termination of a month-to-month tenancy.
• Details: Tenants must vacate within 45 days of receiving the notice.

Legal Grounds for Eviction

Landlords in Hawaii can evict tenants for several reasons, including but not limited to:

• Non-payment of rent (5 days’ notice required).
• Violation of lease terms (10 days’ notice required).
• Termination of month-to-month tenancy (45 days’ notice required).

Hawaii Eviction Process

The eviction process in Hawaii must be followed precisely to ensure legal compliance. The steps are as follows:

Step 1: Provide Written Notice

Landlords must serve the tenant with a written eviction notice that includes a valid reason for eviction and the correct notice period.

Step 2: File Complaint

If the tenant does not comply with the eviction notice, the landlord can file a complaint with the local district court. A filing fee of $155.00 is required, and the landlord must include a copy of the lease and the eviction notice served to the tenant.

Step 3: Serve Summons and Complaint

A licensed process server must deliver the summons and complaint to the tenant. The tenant has five days to respond after receiving the summons.

Step 4: Obtain Writ of Possession

If the tenant does not respond, the court will issue a writ of possession, allowing the landlord to have the tenant removed from the property.

Important Legal Citations

• Hawaii Revised Statutes § 521-68: Non-payment of rent.
• Hawaii Revised Statutes § 521-69: Violation of lease or rental agreement.
• Hawaii Revised Statutes § 521-71: Termination of periodic tenancy.

Statutes

• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 490:3-506.5 – Charges for dishonored checks
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-21(b) – Rent
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-21(d)(e) – Rent
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-35 – Attorney’s Fees
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-37 – Subleases and assignments
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-38 – Tenants subject to rental agreement; notice of conversions
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-42 – Landlord to supply and maintain fit premises
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-43(a)(b) – Rental agreement, disclosure
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-43(d) – Rental agreement, disclosure
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44(b) – Security deposits
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44(c) – Security deposits
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44(b)(2) and (e) – Prepaid Rent and Use of Security Deposit
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44(c)(g) and (h) – Security deposits
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-51 – Tenant to maintain dwelling unit
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-52 – Tenant to use properly
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-53(a) – Access
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-53(b) – Access
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-54 – Tenant to use and occupy
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-55 – Tenant’s responsibility to inform landlord
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-56 – Disposition of tenant’s abandoned possessions
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-62 – Tenant’s remedy of termination at beginning of term
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-63(c) – Tenant’s remedy of termination at any time; unlawful removal or exclusion
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-64 – [Effective 11/1/2024] Tenant’s remedy of repair and deduction for minor defects
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68 – Landlord’s remedies for failure by tenant to pay rent
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-70(b) – Landlord’s remedies for absence, misuse, abandonment and failure to honor tenancy before occupancy
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-70(c) – Landlord’s remedies for absence, misuse, abandonment and failure to honor tenancy before occupancy
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-70(d) – Landlord’s remedies for absence, misuse, abandonment and failure to honor tenancy before occupancy
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-71(a) – Termination of tenancy; landlord’s remedies for holdover tenants
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-71(b) – Termination of tenancy; landlord’s remedies for holdover tenants
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-71(d) – Termination of tenancy; landlord’s remedies for holdover tenants
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-72 – Landlord’s remedies for improper use
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-74 – Retaliatory evictions and rent increases prohibited
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-78 – Rent trust fund
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 633-27 – District courts; powers
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-1 – Six years
• Haw. Rev. Stat. § 666-3 – Forfeiture, warning, notice to vacate, refunds