Hawaii Eviction Process

Last Updated: October 18, 2021 by Elizabeth Souza

Timeline. Evicting a tenant in Hawaii can take around one to four months, depending on the reason for the eviction and whether tenants file an answer and attend the hearing (read more).

Introduction. Under Hawaii’s law a landlord has the right to evict a tenant for a number of legal reasons. If the landlord proceeds with an eviction case, the case shall be upheld in District Court. It is important for landlords to follow all rules and regulations to have a legal eviction process. There also must be legal cause for an eviction case. Below are the individual steps of the eviction process in Hawaii.

Step 1: Notice is Posted

A landlord is expected to provide some basic information on all eviction notices, including the date the tenancy will terminate and the reason for the eviction. Depending on the grounds for eviction, additional information shall be provided on the notice under state law.

Landlords in Hawaii can begin the eviction process for several reasons, including:

1. Nonpayment of Rent – Once rent is past due, notice must be served giving the tenant the option to pay rent in order to avoid eviction.
2. Violation of Lease Terms / Rental Agreement – If a tenant violates a provision of a written lease/rental agreement, landlords must give prior notice to the tenant before beginning the eviction proceedings.
3. No Lease / End of Lease Term (Tenant at Will) – If there is no lease or the term of the lease has ended, the landlord does not need any additional reason to end the tenancy if proper notice is given.
4. Demolition of Rental Unit – If the landlord wants to demolish the rental property, tenants must be given 120 days’ notice prior to eviction.
5. Short-Term Rental Conversion – If the landlord wants to convert the rental property to a short-term rental unit, the tenant must be given 120 days’ notice prior to eviction.
6. Condominium Conversion – If the landlord wants to convert the rental property into condominiums, tenants must be given 120 days’ notice prior to eviction.
7. Illegal Activity – Landlords may be required to give tenants involved in illegal activity time to correct the issue, depending on the type of activity.

Each possible ground for eviction has its own rules for how the process starts.

Eviction Process for Nonpayment of Rent

A landlord is allowed to evict a tenant for failing to pay rent on time.

According to Hawaii law, rent is considered late the day after it’s due; grace periods (if any) are addressed in the lease/rental agreement.

Once rent is past due, the landlord must provide a 15-Day Notice to Pay if the landlord wants to file an eviction action with the court. This notice gives the tenant the option to pay the past due amount in full within 15 days
[1]
in order to avoid eviction.

If the tenant does not pay the rent due by the end of the notice period and remains on the property, the landlord may proceed with the eviction process.

Eviction Process for Violation of Lease Terms / Rental Agreement

A tenant can be evicted in Hawaii if they do not uphold their responsibilities and obligations under the terms of a written lease/rental agreement.

Hawaii landlords must provide tenants with a 10-Day Notice to Comply, giving tenants
10 days
[2]
to correct the issue in order to avoid eviction.

Typical lease violations under this category may include having too many people residing in the rental unit, violating a no-smoking policy, and having a pet when there’s a no-pet policy.

Note that illegal activity is not included in this category.

If the tenant fails to correct the issue and remains on the property after the notice period expires, the landlord may proceed with the eviction process.

Eviction Process for No Lease / End of Lease

In the state of Hawaii, if tenants “holdover,” or stay in the rental unit after the rental term has expired, then the landlord must give tenants notice before evicting them. This can include tenants without a written lease and week-to-week and month-to-month tenants.

Often this type of eviction applies to tenants who are at the end of their lease and the landlord doesn’t want to renew.

The amount of time required in the notice depends on the type
[3]
of tenancy.

• Less than Month-to-Month – If rent is paid weekly, every two weeks, or some other period that is less than monthly, landlords must provide their tenants with a 10-Day Notice to Quit.
• Month-to-Month – If rent is paid on a month-to-month basis, a landlord must provide the tenant with a 45-Day Notice to Quit.

If the tenant remains on the property after the notice period expires, the landlord may proceed with the eviction process.

Eviction Process for Demolition of Rental Unit

In the state of Hawaii, if a landlord wants to demolish the rental unit, month-to-month tenants must be given 120 days’
[4]
notice before the landlord can proceed with an eviction action.

Tenants do not have the option to stay in the unit and must move out.

If the tenant remains on the property after the notice period expires, the landlord may proceed with the eviction process.

Eviction Process for Short-Term Rental Conversion

If the landlord wants to convert the rental property into a short-term rental, such as an Airbnb property, month-to-month tenants must be given 120 days’
[4]
notice before the landlord can proceed with the eviction process.

Tenants do not have the option to remain in the rental unit and must move out.

If the tenant remains on the property after the notice period expires, the landlord may proceed with the eviction process.

Eviction Process for Condominium Conversion

If the landlord wants to convert the rental property into condominiums, month-to-month tenants must be given 120 days’
[4]
notice before the landlord can proceed with the eviction process.

Tenants do not have the option to remain in the rental unit and must move out.

If the tenant remains on the property after the notice period expires, the landlord may proceed with the eviction process.

Eviction Process for Illegal Activity

Tenants of a rental unit who have created a “common” nuisance must be given 24 hours’
[5]
notice to correct the issue.

If the “common” nuisance is not corrected within 24 hours, the landlord must provide tenants with a 5-Day Notice to Quit, giving the tenant five days
[5]
to move out of the rental unit in order to avoid eviction.

For illegal activities that could cause “irremediable”
[6]
harm other tenants or the rental property, landlords are not required to give tenants time to correct the issue and may instead give tenants an unconditional Notice to Quit.

For all other types of illegal activity that don’t endanger other tenants/rental property, and don’t constitute a common nuisance, tenants may be given a 10-Day Notice to Comply, giving tenants 10 days
[7]
to correct the issue in order to avoid eviction.

If the tenant fails to correct the issue by the deadline/remains on the property after the notice period expires, the landlord may proceed with the eviction process.

Step 2: Complaint is Filed and Served

As the next step in the eviction process, Hawaii landlords must file a complaint in the appropriate court. In the state of Hawaii, the filing fee is $155.

The summons and complaint may be served on the tenant
[8]
by the sheriff, the police chief, a party specifically appointed by the court to serve process, or by anyone over the age of 18 who isn’t part of the case through any one of the following methods: 
[9]

1. Giving a copy to the tenant in person;
2. Leaving a copy with someone who resides at the rental unit; or
3. Posting
   [1]
   a copy in a conspicuous place on the rental unit.

Note that Hawaii landlords aren’t required to mail an additional copy of the summons and complaint if it’s posted on the rental unit.

Step 3: Answer is Filed

Tenants in Hawaii are required to file an answer with the court five to seven days
[10]
after the date the summons was issued in order to appear at the hearing and state why they don’t feel they should be evicted.

If tenants fail to file an answer with the court, the judicial officer may issue a default judgment in favor of the landlord, meaning the tenant would have to move out and the eviction process will continue.

Step 4: Court Hearing and Judgment

Hawaii state law doesn’t address how quickly the eviction hearing must be held after the complaint is filed or the tenant’s answer is received.

However, tenants who fail to appear for the eviction hearing will not be allowed to remain in the rental unit. The judicial officer will issue a default judgment in favor of the landlord and the eviction process will continue.

If the judge rules in favor of the landlord, either through a default judgment or at an eviction hearing, a writ of possession will be issued, and the eviction process will proceed.

Step 5: Writ of Possession Is Issued

The writ of possession is the tenant’s final notice to leave the rental unit and gives the tenant the opportunity to remove their belongings before the sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer, or other person authorized by the rules of the court comes to the premises and forcibly removes them.

If the court has ruled in the landlord’s favor, the landlord will ask the court to issue a writ of possession. Hawaii state law doesn’t specify how quickly the writ must be issued; however, once the writ is issued the rental agreement is deemed annulled and cancelled.

If the tenant remains in the rental unit after the writ is issued, possession of the rental unit will be forcibly returned to the landlord.

Step 6: Possession of Property is Returned

Hawaii state law doesn’t specify how long officers have to enforce the writ of possession once it has been received from the court.

If the tenant remains on the property after any grace period in the writ expires (if there is one), they will be forcibly removed from the rental unit.

Hawaii Eviction Process Timeline

Below is a summary of the aspects outside of the landlord’s control that dictate the amount of time it takes to evict a tenant in Hawaii. With that being said, these estimates can vary greatly, and some time periods may not include weekends or legal holidays.

1. Initial Notice Period – Between 24 hours and 120 days, depending on the notice type and reason for eviction.
2. Issuance/Service of Summons and Complaint – A few days to a few weeks, depending on the service method.
3. Answer is Filed – Five to seven days after the date the summons was issued.
4. Court Hearing and Ruling on the Eviction – A few days to a few weeks, depending on whether the tenant files an answer and appears for the eviction hearing.
5. Issuance of Writ of Possession – A few hours to a few days.
6. Return of Possession – A few hours to a few weeks, depending on how many other evictions are already scheduled.

Additional Information

Tenant’s Defenses for Eviction Lawsuits. A tenant might choose to fight the eviction lawsuit. There are several defenses in favor of the tenant:

• The landlord discriminates against the tenant for reasons of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, etc.
• The landlord forcefully and unlawfully removes the tenant from the premises. It is important to note that only authorized people or agencies (e.g. law enforcement officers) who have a court order may remove the tenant.
• Any retaliatory evictions.

Tenant’s Abandoned Personal Property. If the tenant leaves behind their personal property, the landlord must send the tenant a written notice to claim the personal property. The landlord can charge the tenant for any storage costs. If the tenant doesn’t claim the property, it is up to the landlord to decide what to do with the property (i.e. dispose, sell, donate, etc.).

If the landlord chooses to sell the personal property of their former tenant, they must advertise the sale of the belongings in the general circulation for three consecutive days. If the landlord is able to sell the personal property, they may use the funds to cover any unpaid rent or storage costs. If there are additional funds beyond the unpaid rent or unpaid bills, the landlord must place the funds in a trust for the tenant for 30 days. If the tenant does not claim the funds the landlord may keep it.

If the landlord chooses to donate the tenant’s personal property, the landlord may make the donation 15 days after notice. If the landlord chooses to dispose of the tenant’s personal property, it is at the landlord’s discretion.

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Lessees who reside on Hawaiian Home Lands must follow State, Federal, and County laws along with DHHL rules and regulations. If a complaint is filed with DHHL, an authorized agent has the right to inspect the premises to make sure the lessee is in compliance with health and safety standards. The following violations may breach and terminate the lease:

• Illegal Activities. Falsification of information on lessee’s application, trespassing, drug related use or drug solicitation is strictly prohibited.
• Improper Maintenance. Lessees must maintain the premises in a clean, sanitary and orderly manner. Vandalism, improper or offensive use of the property is prohibited and in violation of the lease.
• Delinquent Payments. Whenever a borrower is more than 120 days delinquent on direct loan repayments, DHHL may start lease cancellation proceedings as authorized by the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
• Abandoned Lot. If there is failure to use or occupy the premises, and DHHL has contacted the lessee via certified mail with a minimum of two attempts, DHHL may cancel the lease.

If a violation occurs the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands may request a contested case hearing regarding the violations to resolve the issue or to cancel the lease. The Commission will make a formal and final decision to either allow the lessee to correct the violation or cancel the lease.

Flowchart of Hawaii Eviction Process

For additional questions about the eviction process in Hawaii, please refer to the official legislation, Hawaii Revised Statutes §521-68 to 521-72, and §666-1 to 666-41, for more information.