Tenant Repair Laws in Hawaii

In Hawaii, a landlord must start repairs within 12 business days of written notice (3 business days for essential facilities), after which a tenant may repair and deduct up to $1,000 or one month's rent (whichever is greater), and disputed rent can be ordered into a court rent trust fund.

Last checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Repair and deduct: Yes, up to $1,000 or one month's rent; The cap is whichever is greater, and total charges in each six month period may not exceed three months' rent.
Rent withholding: Rent paid into court; In a court case over rent, the court orders disputed rent deposited into a rent trust fund and pays it out based on whether withholding was justified.
Landlord repair deadline: 12 business days to start repairs; 3 business days for electrical, plumbing and other essential facilities; 7 calendar days after a health or safety notice from a government agency.

Sources

Last checked October 2026

The rules in Hawaii

Can a tenant repair and deduct the cost from rent in Hawaii?

Yes, up to $1,000 or one month's rent. Repair and deduct in Hawaii: yes, up to $1,000 or one month's rent. The cap is whichever is greater, and total charges in each six month period may not exceed three months' rent.

Can a tenant withhold rent or pay it into escrow for repairs in Hawaii?

Rent paid into court. Rent withholding in Hawaii: rent paid into court. In a court case over rent, the court orders disputed rent deposited into a rent trust fund and pays it out based on whether withholding was justified.

How long does a landlord have to make repairs after notice in Hawaii?

Landlord repair deadline in Hawaii: 12 business days to start repairs. 3 business days for electrical, plumbing and other essential facilities; 7 calendar days after a health or safety notice from a government agency.

Where do the Hawaii tenant repair laws come from?

The rules above come from Haw. Rev. Stat. 521-64 and Haw. Rev. Stat. 521-78. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Section 521-64 was last amended in 2024 (L 2024, c 32).

What this means in practice

Give notice in writing and keep a copy. Tenant repair remedies usually start running only after the landlord has received notice of the problem, and a dated letter or email is the easiest way to prove when that happened.

Document the condition before and after. Photos, videos, inspection reports from a local code office and receipts for any repair work help show that the problem was serious and that any amount deducted or withheld matches the actual cost.

Stay current on everything else. Repair remedies generally protect only tenants who are not otherwise behind on rent and who did not cause the damage, and using a remedy the state does not allow can be treated as nonpayment of rent and lead to an eviction case.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.