If a landlord handed you a notice, your security deposit never came back, or someone's negligence left you injured or out of pocket in Hawaii, the deadlines move faster than you think — a summary-possession summons can be returnable in as little as five days. You don't need to know the statute numbers or pay anyone to find out where you stand. Call 1-844-690-0555, free and open 24/7, and our AI legal assistant — trained on Hawaii and federal law — will walk you through your options in plain English. It's legal information, not legal advice, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Hawaii.
Read the paper you were given and find the date on it — in Hawaii an eviction summons is returnable at least five days after you're served, and you usually must show up at that District Court hearing to be heard. Do not move out or pay anything just because a notice says so; many notices are defective. If it's a withheld deposit, your landlord had 14 days to return it with an itemized list. Save every text, email, photo and receipt. Then call 1-844-690-0555 — free, any hour — and we'll tell you what your notice actually means and what to do next.
Here's the thing that blindsides Hawaii renters in 2026: for an eviction based only on unpaid rent, your landlord can no longer go straight to court. Under Act 278, in effect February 5, 2026 through February 2028, the landlord must give you a 10-day notice to cure, copy a state-funded mediation center, and — if you ask for mediation in that window — wait about 20 days from when you received the notice before filing. Mediation is free, and it can stop the case before it ever reaches a courtroom. The catch: nothing happens unless you affirmatively request it inside that short window. Miss it and you lose a protection the legislature built specifically to keep families housed. Call 1-844-690-0555, free and 24/7, and we'll tell you exactly how to invoke it — legal information, not advice.
If you can't afford a lawyer, Hawaii has real free and low-cost help for civil and housing problems. These organizations are genuine — start here, then call us to figure out your next move.
I just got an eviction notice in Hawaii — am I being kicked out right now?
No. A notice is only the first step. For unpaid rent you get at least a 15-day written demand to pay (HRS 521-68); for a no-cause month-to-month ending, 45 days (HRS 521-71). Only after that can a landlord file a summary-possession case, and only a court writ enforced by the sheriff can actually remove you. Call 1-844-690-0555, free and 24/7, and we'll tell you what your specific notice means.
What is the return date on my eviction summons?
It's your court hearing date. In Hawaii a summary-possession summons is returnable at least five days after you're served if served in the same circuit (seven days if in another), and that's when you must appear in District Court to tell your side. Miss it and the landlord can win by default. Call 1-844-690-0555 before that date and we'll explain how to prepare — legal information, not advice.
My landlord won't return my security deposit. What can I do?
Under HRS 521-44 your landlord must return the deposit with an itemized statement of any deductions within 14 days of move-out. Miss that and they can forfeit the right to keep any of it and may owe up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld. Deposit-return claims go to small claims with no dollar cap, and lawyers can't appear against you. Call 1-844-690-0555 and we'll walk you through filing.
How much can my landlord charge for a security deposit in Hawaii?
No more than one month's rent, plus a separate pet deposit of up to one month's rent if you have a pet (HRS 521-44). A landlord cannot charge a deposit for a service animal, because it isn't a pet under the law. If you were charged more, that's a problem worth raising — call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour, to understand your rights.
What is the new 2026 eviction mediation rule I keep hearing about?
That's Act 278, a two-year pilot that started February 5, 2026. For nonpayment evictions, your landlord must give a 10-day cure notice, copy a state-funded mediation center, and — if you request mediation in that window — wait about 20 days before filing. Mediation is free and can stop the case. But you have to ask. Call 1-844-690-0555 and we'll tell you how to trigger it.
How much can I sue for in Hawaii small claims court?
Up to $5,000 for most disputes in the Small Claims Division of District Court. The big exception: a tenant suing to recover a security deposit has no dollar limit, and in deposit cases lawyers are barred from appearing on either side. For other small claims, you can have a lawyer but usually can't recover attorney's fees. Call 1-844-690-0555 and we'll help you size up your claim.
I was hurt in an accident in Hawaii — how long do I have to file?
Generally two years from the injury under HRS 657-7, though the clock can start when you reasonably discovered the harm. Wait past the deadline and your claim is barred no matter how strong it is. Don't guess on the date. Call 1-844-690-0555, free and 24/7, and we'll explain what your timeline looks like — legal information, not advice, with no attorney-client relationship.
A business in Hawaii ripped me off. Is that worth pursuing?
Often yes. Hawaii's unfair-and-deceptive-practices law (HRS Chapter 480) lets an injured consumer recover the greater of $1,000 or three times their actual damages, plus reasonable attorney's fees — and $5,000-or-treble if the victim is an elder. You generally have four years to act. Even a small loss can be worth a claim. Call 1-844-690-0555 to find out where you stand.
Can my landlord shut off my power or change the locks to force me out?
No. A 'self-help' eviction — cutting utilities, removing your belongings, or changing the locks — is illegal in Hawaii. Only a court can order you out, through summary possession under HRS Chapter 666, enforced by the sheriff. If a landlord is doing this to you, it's urgent. Call 1-844-690-0555 right away, free, any hour, and we'll explain your options.
Do I need a lawyer for my Hawaii civil or housing problem?
Not always. Many deposit, small-claims and tenant matters are designed for self-represented people, and Hawaii's Judiciary Self-Help Centers offer free walk-in help. For a bigger injury or contract case, a lawyer may be worth it. Start by calling 1-844-690-0555 free — our AI assistant gives you Hawaii legal information, not advice, and if you want one we can help you book a paid consultation with a Hawaii-licensed attorney.
Is Legal Hotline a law firm or free legal aid?
Neither. We're a free 24/7 information line, not a law firm and not a public defender, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship. Our AI assistant is trained on Hawaii and federal law and gives you legal information — not legal advice — so you understand your options. If you need actual representation, we can point you to free aid like Legal Aid Society of Hawaii or help you book a paid Hawaii attorney. Call 1-844-690-0555.
What does the call cost, and is there an income test?
Nothing, and no. The call to 1-844-690-0555 is completely free, available 24 hours a day, with no income test and no web form to fill out. You can call about an eviction, a deposit, an injury, or a consumer dispute. The only thing that ever costs money is if you choose to book a paid consultation with a Hawaii-licensed attorney — and that's always your decision.
We connect Hawaii renters, injured people and consumers with licensed local attorneys when they need one. If you practice landlord-tenant, personal injury or consumer law in Hawaii and want to receive matched, ready-to-talk clients, join our referral network. It's a simple way to grow your practice while helping people who've already taken the first step. Reach out to learn how it works.
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
An eviction return date, a 14-day deposit clock, a two-year injury limit — in Hawaii the calendar is often the real opponent, and silence almost always favors the other side. You don't have to face it guessing. Call 1-844-690-0555 now, free and open 24/7, and our AI legal assistant trained on Hawaii and federal law will tell you where you stand and what to do next. It's legal information, not legal advice, and it creates no attorney-client relationship — just a clear, free first step when you need it most.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.