Hawaii’s landlord-tenant hotline is the Landlord-Tenant Information Center run by the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, reachable toll-free from any island at 1-844-808-DCCA (3222). Trained counselors explain how the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code (HRS Chapter 521) applies to common rental situations, for both landlords and tenants, at no cost.1Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Landlord-Tenant Information Center They do not give legal advice, take sides, or contact the other party for you.
Hours and Callback Window
Counselors take calls Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon, excluding state holidays. If you call before noon, you should get a callback the same day by 4:30 PM. Calls that come in after noon are returned the next business day by 4:30 PM.1Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Landlord-Tenant Information Center Because the callback window closes at 4:30, calling early in the morning gives you the best shot at a same-day answer.
What to Have Ready Before You Call
Counselors can move faster when you have your paperwork in front of you. Pull out the written rental agreement so you can point to specific clauses that are in dispute. If you have received any formal written notices from the other party, such as a nonpayment notice or a notice to vacate, keep those nearby too.
Write down the dates that matter: when you asked for a repair, when rent was last paid, when a notice was sent or received, or when your security deposit should have come back. If the other party is pointing to a particular lease section, find it in advance so the counselor can match it to the right statute. Have a pen handy to jot down any statute numbers the counselor shares.
What Counselors Can and Cannot Do
The hotline is an educational service. Counselors walk you through the relevant section of Chapter 521, give you the citation so you can read it yourself, and explain in general terms how the rule applies to your facts. The most frequent subjects are security deposits, notice periods, repair responsibilities, and lease termination. Counselors can also point you to the DCCA’s plain-language handbook, which collects the key provisions of the code.2Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. 2024 Handbook for the Hawaii Residential Landlord-Tenant Code
What they will not do: predict whether you would win a case, draft legal documents, represent you, call your landlord or tenant, or investigate a complaint. There is no formal complaint mechanism attached to the hotline. If you need an advocate or an enforcement body, see the resources at the end of this article.
The Rules Callers Ask About Most
Security Deposits
Under HRS ยง521-44, a landlord may charge a security deposit of up to one month’s rent, plus a separate pet deposit of up to one month’s rent (not allowed for assistance animals). After the lease ends, the landlord has 14 days to return the deposit or send a written, itemized statement of deductions with supporting evidence such as repair invoices or cleaning receipts. If the landlord misses that 14-day window, the landlord forfeits the right to keep any portion and must return the full amount.3Justia Law. Hawaii Code 521-44 – Security Deposits
Notice to End a Tenancy
For a month-to-month agreement, a landlord must give at least 45 days’ written notice to terminate; a tenant needs to give at least 28 days’. Because rent cannot be raised mid-tenancy without the tenant’s agreement, that 45-day notice is effectively how landlords raise rent on a month-to-month lease: terminate the current arrangement and offer a new one. When a landlord plans to demolish the building, convert to condominiums, or switch units to vacation rentals, the notice is at least 120 days.4Justia Law. Hawaii Code 521-71 – Termination of Tenancy; Notice
For nonpayment, the landlord must send a written demand giving the tenant at least five business days to pay before terminating the agreement.5Justia Law. Hawaii Code 521-68 – Landlord Remedies for Failure to Pay Rent
Mediation Before a Nonpayment Eviction
As of February 5, 2026, Hawaii’s Pre-filing Eviction Mediation Program (PEMP) requires landlords to offer mediation before filing an eviction for nonpayment. The landlord sends a written 10-calendar-day notice telling the tenant that eviction will move forward unless the tenant pays or requests mediation within that window. If the tenant requests mediation in time, the landlord must participate and cannot file for eviction for 20 calendar days from the date the tenant received the notice. Sessions are free, run up to 90 minutes, and happen by Zoom or in person through the Mediation Centers of Hawaii.6Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Hawaii Pre-filing Eviction Mediation Program Flyer7Mediation Centers of Hawaii. Act 278 – Landlord-Tenant Mediation Services
A tenant who requests mediation but then fails to show up loses the protection, and the landlord can seek reimbursement for mediation-related costs, including attorney fees.6Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Hawaii Pre-filing Eviction Mediation Program Flyer
Repairs and Habitability
When a condition in the unit seriously undermines what the tenant bargained for, the tenant can send the landlord a written notice describing the problem. If the landlord does not fix it within one week, the tenant may terminate the agreement. No prior written notice is required when the condition makes the unit uninhabitable or creates an immediate health or safety threat, and the tenant can also recover damages if the landlord caused the problem through negligence or on purpose.8Justia Law. Hawaii Code 521-63 – Tenant Remedy of Termination Counselors stress one practical point: put the request in writing, keep a copy, and note the date.
Retaliation and Illegal Shutoffs
Hawaii law bars a landlord from evicting you, raising your rent, or cutting services in response to a good-faith complaint to the landlord or to a government agency about housing code or health violations, or in response to a repair request under the code. A tenant wrongfully evicted in retaliation can recover damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees.9Justia Law. Hawaii Code 521-74 – Retaliatory Evictions and Rent Increases Prohibited
A landlord who deliberately shuts off water, electricity, gas, or other essential services to force a tenant out faces minimum damages of three times the monthly rent or $1,000, whichever is greater, civil penalties between $500 and $10,000 per violation, and liability for the tenant’s attorney fees.10Justia Law. Hawaii Code 521-74.5 – Recovery of Possession Prohibited If utilities have been cut, a hotline counselor will likely point you straight to legal help rather than try to work through it on the call.
When the Hotline Isn’t Enough
Free Mediation
The Mediation Centers of Hawaii handle landlord-tenant disputes, including nonpayment cases under PEMP, with an impartial mediator helping both sides work out payment plans or move-out timelines. Each island has a community center, and sessions are available by Zoom or in person.7Mediation Centers of Hawaii. Act 278 – Landlord-Tenant Mediation Services The Mediation Center of the Pacific, based in Honolulu, also takes landlord-tenant cases.11Mediation Center of the Pacific. Home – Mediation Center of the Pacific
Legal Aid
The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii provides free civil legal help to low-income residents, with offices on every major island, and handles landlord-tenant matters including eviction defense. Call (808) 536-4302 to check eligibility.12Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. Legal Aid Society of Hawaii
Small Claims Court
For money disputes like an unreturned security deposit or unpaid rent, small claims court hears cases up to $5,000 without an attorney, and up to $40,000 when the other side files a counterclaim.13Hawaii State Judiciary. Small Claims Most security deposit fights end up here, and the 14-day forfeiture rule often decides them before the judge even looks at the deductions.
Housing Discrimination
The hotline cannot investigate discrimination claims. If you believe a landlord has discriminated against you based on race, sex, disability, familial status, or another protected characteristic, file with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, which is HUD-certified and dual-files your complaint with HUD automatically. You have 180 days from the last discriminatory act to file with the HCRC, or up to one year to file directly with HUD.14Hawai`i Fair Housing Enforcement Program. File a Complaint