Hawaii Security Deposit Law: How Many Days and What to Do
In Hawaii, a landlord has 14 calendar days to return a security deposit. The clock starts after your lease ends; the landlord must return the deposit or send an itemized list (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44). Most states allow 30 days; Hawaii is shorter.
Last checked 2026-07-14
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Details of the return rules
| When it applies | Deadline | Starts from |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit return | 14 days | after the termination of the rental agreement |
Hawaii return rule: 14 calendar days. Check the dates you entered above.
Key facts
| Deadline | 14 calendar days |
|---|---|
| Deadline trigger | after the termination of the rental agreement |
| Penalty formula | failure to furnish required written notice/itemization within 14 days: landlord forfeits right to retain any part of deposit and must return entire deposit; if court finds wrongful and wilful retention, damages may equal three times the amount wrongfully and wilfully retained plus costs; if wrongful (not wilful), damages equal the amount wrongfully retained plus costs |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Statute citation | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 |
How does Hawaii's deadline compare with other states?
Hawaii's return deadline is 14 days. The middle of the comparable state deadlines is ≈30 days. Use the dates and questions above to see which deadline applies to you.
| State | Return rule |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | 14 days |
| Alaska | 14 days |
| Arizona | 14 days |
| Kansas | 14 days |
| Nebraska | 14 days |
| New York | 14 days |
See all 51 jurisdictions
| State | Return rule |
|---|---|
| Montana | 10 days |
| Alaska | 14 days |
| Arizona | 14 days |
| Hawaii | 14 days |
| Kansas | 14 days |
| Nebraska | 14 days |
| New York | 14 days |
| Vermont | 14 days |
| Florida | 15 days |
| Delaware | 20 days |
| Rhode Island | 20 days |
| California | 21 days |
| Connecticut | 21 days |
| Idaho | 21 days |
| Minnesota | 21 days |
| South Dakota | 21 days |
| Wisconsin | 21 days |
| Colorado | 30 days |
| Georgia | 30 days |
| Iowa | 30 days |
| Louisiana | 30 days |
| Maine | 30 days |
| Massachusetts | 30 days |
| Michigan | 30 days |
| Missouri | 30 days |
| Nevada | 30 days |
| New Hampshire | 30 days |
| New Jersey | 30 days |
| New Mexico | 30 days |
| North Carolina | 30 days |
| North Dakota | 30 days |
| Ohio | 30 days |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days |
| South Carolina | 30 days |
| Texas | 30 days |
| Utah | 30 days |
| Washington | 30 days |
| Wyoming | 30 days |
| Oregon | 31 days |
| District of Columbia | 45 days |
| Illinois | 45 days |
| Indiana | 45 days |
| Maryland | 45 days |
| Mississippi | 45 days |
| Oklahoma | 45 days |
| Virginia | 45 days |
| Alabama | 60 days |
| Arkansas | 60 days |
| West Virginia | 60 days |
| Kentucky | No fixed return deadline |
| Tennessee | No fixed return deadline |
Source: state statute records · checked 2026-07-14 · n=48 fixed rules among 51 jurisdictions · method: first listed return deadline; calendar months plotted as ≈30 days · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
What happens if the landlord misses the deadline?
failure to furnish required written notice/itemization within 14 days: landlord forfeits right to retain any part of deposit and must return entire deposit; if court finds wrongful and wilful retention, damages may equal three times the amount wrongfully and wilfully retained plus costs; if wrongful (not wilful), damages equal the amount wrongfully retained plus costs The statutory amount depends on the facts and any conditions in Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44; it is separate from the deposit owed.
Hawaii is one of 36 states where the law sets a multiple of the deposit.
| Rule | States | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The law sets a multiple of the deposit ← Hawaii | 36 | 71% |
| The law names another remedy (forfeiture, fees, damages) | 10 | 20% |
| Read the cited remedy; no multiple is set | 5 | 10% |
Source: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 · checked 2026-07-14 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
What do you have to do before you can claim the penalty?
Send the required information to start the clock.
Does the deadline move if it falls on a weekend or holiday?
Hawaii's general rule for counting legal time periods says: The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last day is a Sunday or holiday and then it is also excluded.
(Haw. Rev. Stat. § 1-29). Whether a court applies it to a landlord's deposit deadline depends on the case, so this page does not move the deadline for you.
To be safe: if the last day falls on a weekend or holiday, treat the deadline as passed only after the next business day. Example: October 10, 2026 is a Saturday, so wait until October 12, 2026 before saying the deadline has passed.
What Hawaii law requires of the landlord
The deposit return rule is 14 calendar days. The law also requires an itemized statement when deductions are made.
- Return window
- 14 calendar days
- Itemization
- Required
- Receipts threshold
- No separate threshold recorded
- Interest
- No statewide interest requirement in the verified data.
Is interest owed on a deposit in Hawaii?
Hawaii is one of 37 states where interest is not required by state law.
| Rule | States | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Required by state law | 3 | 6% |
| Owed only in some cases | 11 | 22% |
| Not required by state law ← Hawaii | 37 | 73% |
Source: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44 · checked 2026-07-14 · n=51 · method: computed from state records · computed, not measured · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6
Hawaii security deposit deductions
FAQ
How do I confirm the Hawaii deadline?
Use the questions above to match your dates to Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44, and keep proof of each date.
What is the small claims limit in Hawaii?
See the applicable court limits and jurisdictions in the state court guide. Hawaii court guide
City data on this page currently includes Urban Honolulu, East Honolulu, Pearl City, Hilo, Waipahu, Kailua, Kaneohe, Kahului.
Statute text, sources and changes
Statute says
The security deposit, or the portion of the security deposit remaining after the landlord has claimed and retained amounts authorized under this section, if any, shall be returned to the tenant not later than fourteen days after the termination of the rental agreement. If the landlord does not furnish the tenant with the written notice and other information required by this subsection, within fourteen days after the termination of the rental agreement, the landlord shall not be entitled to retain the security deposit or any part of it, and the landlord shall return the entire amount of the security deposit to the tenant.
What this means
Sources
- https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol12_Ch0501-0588/HRS0521/HRS_0521-0044.htm · accessed 2026-07-14
- https://cca.hawaii.gov/ocp/landlord-tenant-residential-code/ · accessed 2026-07-14
- https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/small_claims_info · accessed 2026-07-14
Changes
- : Record verified against the cited statute.
Verified 2026-07-14 · release 5c9b10e6dffc94d70cee7a2f28ed0379eb3ce9d6