Security deposit law in Hawaii

The rule in Hawaii

Hawaii limits a residential security deposit to 1 month's rent, plus a pet deposit of up to 1 month. The wording in Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44(b), (c): “in an amount not in excess of a sum equal to one month's rent.”

The return deadline is 14 days, counted after the rental agreement terminates. The text reads: “not later than fourteen days after the termination of the rental agreement.”

Of the 44 jurisdictions verified here, 0 give landlords less time and 39 give more; the median is 30 days. Alaska, Nebraska, New York and Vermont also allow 14 days.

What the cap means in dollars: $1,000 rent: up to $1,000, $1,500 rent: up to $1,500 and $2,000 rent: up to $2,000. A pet deposit of up to one month's rent can be added, so $1,500 rent with a pet allows $3,000 in total.

Worked date: if the clock starts on November 30, 2026, the deadline falls on December 14, 2026.

Hawaii has no land neighbours; the nearest deadlines in the ranking: Alaska allows 14 days and caps deposits at two months' rent, Nebraska allows 14 days and caps deposits at one month's rent and New York allows 14 days and caps deposits at one month's rent.

If a deposit is not returned, the small claims limit in Hawaii is $5,000 (small claims rules); at the cap, a full-deposit claim fits whenever rent is $5,000 a month or less.

Source: Hawaii State Legislature, HRS § 521-44 · last checked October 20, 2026.

If the deposit does not come back

The statute above sets the deadline; what happens after it passes is covered in general terms in the guide on a deposit that is not returned, and the way each state starts and counts the clock is compared in how deposit deadlines are counted.