Hawaii Landlord Tenant Rights

Can a Landlord Enter Without Permission in Hawaii?

This question is about Hawaii Landlord Tenant Rights

In Hawaii, landlord entry is strictly regulated by the Hawaii Residential Landlord-Tenant Code ( HRS § 521-53). As of 2026, the law continues to mandate specific notice periods to protect tenant privacy and prevent landlord harassment.

Legal Entry Without Prior Permission

A landlord may enter without immediate consent or notice only in these specific scenarios:

  • True Emergencies: Immediate entry is allowed for crises that threaten life or property, such as an active fire, gas leak, or major plumbing failure.

  • Impracticability: If it is genuinely impossible to provide notice before an urgent (but non-emergency) repair is needed.

  • Extended Absence: Under HRS § 521-70(b), if a tenant is absent for five days or more without notifying the landlord, the landlord may enter as “reasonably necessary” for maintenance or safekeeping.

  • Abandonment or Court Order: If the property appears abandoned or a judge has issued an order for entry.

Requirements for Standard Entry

For routine inspections, repairs, or showing the unit to prospective buyers/tenants:

  • Two-Day Notice: The landlord must provide at least two days’ notice of their intent to enter.

  • Reasonable Hours: Entry must occur during “reasonable hours,” typically interpreted as standard business hours.

  • Tenant Obligations: A tenant cannot unreasonably withhold consent for a landlord to enter for lawful purposes like repairs or inspections.

Protections Against Abuse

  • Harassment: Under HRS § 521-73, if a landlord makes an unlawful entry, enters for harassment, or makes repeated unreasonable demands for entry, the tenant may recover actual damages (not less than one month’s rent) and may have grounds to terminate the lease.

  • 2026 Update (Act 202): While focusing on mediation for evictions, recent 2025–2026 legislative trends reinforce that any “material breach” of the lease—including a landlord’s failure to respect privacy—can be grounds for a formal dispute resolution process.

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The information for this answer was found on our Hawaii Landlord Tenant Rights answers.

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