Hawaii Security Deposit Demand Letter

In Hawaii, a landlord has 14 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions (as of 2026; source: Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44). This letter cites that deadline, states the amount and your forwarding address, and gives the landlord a date to respond before you file. Free, no signup.

Reflects current Hawaii rules · 2026 Official source linked Free PDF · no signup · nothing uploaded

Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.

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Hawaii deposit rules at a glance

Return deadline: 14 days after move-out
Deposit cap: 1 month's rent

As of 2026. Source: Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44 ↗. Want the exact due date? Use the deposit return calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Hawaii landlord have to return the deposit?

14 days after you move out, as of 2026 (source: Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44). Counted in calendar days; check the statute for whether the clock starts at move-out, lease end, or receipt of your forwarding address, and whether a weekend deadline rolls over. Use the deposit return calculator to get the exact date.

Is there a limit on how much deposit a Hawaii landlord can charge?

Yes: 1 month's rent (as of 2026; source: Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44). If you paid more than the cap, say so in the letter; the excess is usually recoverable too.

How much can I sue for in Hawaii if the landlord ignores this?

$5,000 cap on claims; counterclaims may go up to $40,000 (the district court limit). NO dollar limit on residential security-deposit cases, which the small claims division hears regardless of amount. The court is the Small Claims Division of the District Court, and the filing fee is $35 (plus service costs); cases are typically scheduled within 30 days of filing. As of 2026; source: Haw. Rev. Stat. §633-27 (jurisdiction); §633-28 (no appeal; representation).

Do I need a lawyer in Hawaii small claims?

Attorneys are allowed, EXCEPT in landlord-tenant security-deposit cases, where no attorney may appear for either side unless the attorney is the landlord or tenant representing themselves (HRS §633-28). Source: Haw. Rev. Stat. §633-27 (jurisdiction); §633-28 (no appeal; representation) (as of 2026).

Deposit rules in every state, cited to statute: security deposit limits by state.

How Hawaii compares

Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Hawaii: Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44 ↗.

Deposit return deadline

Deposit return deadline: 14 days — well under the national median of 30 days across the 51 states with a statutory rule.

This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 6 other states.

The rest of what Hawaii requires

The figures below are Hawaii's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Hawaii page for that document.

Security deposit cap · as of 2026: 1 month's rent Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44 ↗
Deposit return deadline · as of 2026: 14 days after move-out Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44 ↗
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026: 28 days Haw. Rev. Stat. §521-44 ↗
Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026: 10 days to pay or quit Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 521-68, 521-72, 521-71(a) ↗
Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026: 10 days Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 521-68, 521-72, 521-71(a) ↗
Small claims limit · as of 2026: $5,000 Haw. Rev. Stat. §633-27 (jurisdiction); §633-28 (no appeal; representation) ↗
Where you file · as of 2026: Small Claims Division of the District Court · filing fee $35 (plus service costs); cases are typically scheduled within 30 days of filing Haw. Rev. Stat. §633-27 (jurisdiction); §633-28 (no appeal; representation) ↗
Rental application fee · as of July 2026: Limited to the actual cost of screening Governor of Hawaii / DCCA ↗
Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026: Not required Hawaii County DMV / DMV.ORG ↗
Power of attorney signing · as of 2026: Notarization recommended Haw. Rev. Stat. §551E-3 (form §551E-51) ↗
LLC operating agreement · as of 2026: Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Haw. Rev. Stat. § 428-101 (definition); § 428-103(a) (effect) ↗
Recording a deed · as of 2026: Bureau of Conveyances (Department of Land and Natural Resources, Honolulu) — the only state with a single statewide recording office (HRS ch. 502); Torrens-registered land is instead recorded through the Land Court system (HRS ch. 501), with dual-system property recorded in both · no witnesses HRS § 502-41 ↗

Security deposit demand letter in other states

More Hawaii legal forms

Different state? See security deposit demand letters by state →