Hawaii's security deposit deadline is a 14-day rule. After the rental agreement ends, the landlord must give written reasons for any retention and send any remaining balance within 14 days.
What the landlord must send
If the landlord keeps money, the reasons must be written out. Cleaning and repair charges should be itemized, and receipts are generally expected. If the work cannot be completed within 14 days, estimates may be used.
What changes after 14 days
If notice, including the return of any remaining deposit, is not accomplished within 14 days, Hawaii law says all of the security deposit must be returned.
That is why the 14-day rule matters. The landlord does not get to hold the money and figure it out later.
Keep this proof
Act now to protect your deposit: keep proof of move-out date, surrender, key return, and the unit’s condition. Keep a copy of the lease, the deposit amount, any itemized statement, and any receipt or estimate the landlord gives you.
What about mailing proof?
The handbook says the notice can be mailed on or before the fourteenth day, and proof of mailing matters. Keep the envelope, postmark, or delivery record if you have one.
What happens if the landlord still does not comply
Once the deadline passes, the renter should send a calm written follow-up and then, if needed, prepare for small claims. Hawaii handbook materials also say the tenant has one year to bring an action for return of the deposit.
Get the Hawaii Recovery System
Sources used for this guide
- 2024 Handbook for the Hawaii Residential Landlord-Tenant Code
- Hawaii DCCA - Residential Landlord-Tenant Code
- Hawaii Judiciary - Security Deposits
Source reviewed: April 2026.
Important: This page is general educational information, not legal advice.