Rent, Late Fees and Increases
HRS 521-21 — written notice forty five consecutive days ahead of an increase on a month to month, and a late charge of no more than eight per cent
- Rent is due when and where agreed, and otherwise at the beginning of each month.
- On a month to month tenancy, rent may not go up without written notice given forty five consecutive days before the increase takes effect.
- On a tenancy shorter than month to month, the notice is fifteen consecutive days.
- A late charge for rent not paid when due may not exceed eight per cent of the rent due.
Who handles this in Hawaii: Residential Landlord-Tenant Information Center; and legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Hawaii directory.
A rental agreement may make the tenant pay the costs of a suit for unpaid rent, and attorney's fees of no more than twenty five per cent of the unpaid rent once it has been referred to an outside attorney. A provision beyond that is unenforceable.
Sources for this section (2)
- HRS 521-21 — Rent
- HRS 521-35 — Attorney's fees
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Hawaii attorney.