Hawaii Notice to Vacate: Notice Periods and Rules

In Hawaii, tenants give at least 28 days written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and landlords give at least 45 days. For unpaid rent, the notice period is 10 days. The details, exceptions and statute citations are below.

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Hawaii notice periods at a glance

Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy28 days
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-71(b)
Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy45 days
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-71(a)
Longer tenancies and special cases120 days' written notice if the landlord is ending a month-to-month tenancy to demolish the unit, convert it to a condominium, or change the building to transient vacation rentals (HRS § 521-71(c)).
Notice for unpaid rent10 days
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68
End of a fixed-term leaseA fixed-term lease ends on its end date without a statutory notice requirement, but a tenant who stays on without consent can owe up to double rent, and if the landlord waits more than 60 days to file, a month-to-month tenancy arises (HRS § 521-71(e)).
How notice can be deliveredTermination notices must be in writing (HRS § 521-71). The nonpayment notice may be posted conspicuously on the unit (received on the posting date) or mailed by USPS (received two business days after the postmark), and a copy must also go to a state-funded mediation center (HRS § 521-68(a), (c)).

The nonpayment notice is currently 10 calendar days and must include specific content plus a copy sent to a mediation center. If mediation is scheduled, the landlord cannot file for possession until 20 days after the notice. This mediation regime runs until 4 Feb 2028 (Laws 2025, ch. 278), when § 521-68 reverts to its older short-notice version. A tenant who receives the landlord's 45-day notice may leave earlier on notice and pay prorated rent. Tenancies shorter than month-to-month need 10 days' notice from either side (§ 521-71(d)).

What a Hawaii notice to vacate should include

  • The names of every tenant on the lease and the full address, including unit number
  • The date you are giving the notice and the date the tenancy ends
  • A move-out date that gives at least the minimum notice above, counted from the day the notice is delivered
  • For unpaid rent: the exact amount owed and how to pay it
  • Your name, signature and contact details
  • A record of how and when you delivered it (keep a copy)

Many month-to-month notices must also end on the last day of a rental period, so if rent is due on the 1st, the safest move-out date is the end of a month. Giving more notice than the minimum is fine; giving less usually makes the notice invalid.

Hawaii notice to vacate FAQ

How much notice does a tenant have to give in Hawaii?

For a month-to-month tenancy, at least 28 days in writing (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-71(b)). If you have a fixed-term lease, check the lease: it may require notice before the end date or renew automatically.

How much notice does a landlord have to give in Hawaii?

To end a month-to-month tenancy without a specific reason, at least 45 days (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-71(a)). 120 days' written notice if the landlord is ending a month-to-month tenancy to demolish the unit, convert it to a condominium, or change the building to transient vacation rentals (HRS § 521-71(c)).

What is the notice period for unpaid rent in Hawaii?

The tenant gets 10 days to pay or move out (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68). If the tenant does neither, the landlord can file an eviction case; only a court can order the tenant out.

How do you deliver a notice to vacate in Hawaii?

Termination notices must be in writing (HRS § 521-71). The nonpayment notice may be posted conspicuously on the unit (received on the posting date) or mailed by USPS (received two business days after the postmark), and a copy must also go to a state-funded mediation center (HRS § 521-68(a), (c)).

Do I need to give notice at the end of a fixed-term lease in Hawaii?

A fixed-term lease ends on its end date without a statutory notice requirement, but a tenant who stays on without consent can owe up to double rent, and if the landlord waits more than 60 days to file, a month-to-month tenancy arises (HRS § 521-71(e)).

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Sources

Checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.

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