How long does an eviction take in Hawaii?
For unpaid rent, expect about 4 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 2.5 to 10 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Hawaii actually earn?
We'll prefill Hawaii's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,942/mo
- Property tax 0.27%
- Insurance $643–$3,247/yr
- Vacancy 5.9%–8.6%
The Hawaii eviction timeline
Each step comes from Hawaii's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 4 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
10 days10-day notice; if the tenant schedules mediation within 10 days, the landlord must wait 20 days from notice to file (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68)
- 2
File and get a judgment
7–30 days · typical 14Return date on the summons, generally at least 5 days after service on the same island
- 3
Judgment to lockout
1–8 days (upper end is our model default)The writ of possession can issue and be executed right after judgment; the usual 10-day stay does not apply (DCRCP 62(a)). Paying rent, interest, costs and fees before it issues gets a stay (HRS § 666-14, kept by DCRCP 62(i)). We found no official day count for the sheriff's execution
- 4
If the tenant appeals
30-day window30 days to appeal (HRAP 4); a supersedeas bond is needed to stay the writ
Can the tenant pay and stay? Can pay in full during the notice period. official source Source ↗
What an eviction costs in Hawaii
We couldn't verify Hawaii's court fees yet, so the calculator uses the national default range, labeled Unverified below. Check with your county court for the actual amounts.
Court filing fee
Unverified · national default$55–$171No official amount verified for Hawaii yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Serving the tenant
Unverified · national default$30–$77No official amount verified for Hawaii yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Unverified · national default$75–$180No official amount verified for Hawaii yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,942/moHawaii median gross rent, ±$36. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: Yes
Nonpayment notice must offer mediation; filing waits if mediation is scheduled
Hawaii scores 82 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Hawaii eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Hawaii?
A nonpayment eviction in Hawaii typically takes about 4 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 2.5 to 10 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Hawaii?
10-day notice; if the tenant schedules mediation within 10 days, the landlord must wait 20 days from notice to file (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Hawaii by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Hawaii?
We have not verified Hawaii's eviction filing fee yet. Fees are set by court and county, so check with the local clerk. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Hawaii?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Hawaii costs a landlord roughly $2,500 to $3,700: about 4 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,942/month (about $1,800), court and service fees of about $160-$428 (some are national defaults because we could not verify them), and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 10 weeks can pass $6,900. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Hawaii landlord-friendly for evictions?
Hawaii scores 82 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 41.7/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 26/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Not yet verified for Hawaii: filing fee, service fee, lockout fee, post judgment max. Fields we couldn't source are labeled unverified, never guessed. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourcecapitol.hawaii.gov ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourcecapitol.hawaii.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcecourts.state.hi.us ↗
- Appealofficial sourcecourts.state.hi.us ↗
- Filing feeunverifiednone found
- Service feeunverifiednone found
- Lockout feeunverifiednone found
- Right to cureofficial sourcecapitol.hawaii.gov ↗
- Mediationofficial sourcecapitol.hawaii.gov ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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