Haw. Rev. Stat. § 480 § 480-3.1
Civil penalty.
Operative Text
Any person, firm, company, association, or corporation violating any of the provisions of section 480-2 shall be fined a sum of not less than $500 nor more than $10,000 for each violation, which sum shall be collected in a civil action brought by the attorney general or the director of the office of consumer protection on behalf of the State. The penalties provided in this section are cumulative to the remedies or penalties available under all other laws of this State. Each day that a violation of section 480-2 occurs shall be a separate violation. [L 1968, c 10, §2; am L 1975, c 92, §1 and c 156, §1; am L 1986, c 9, §1]
Hawaii Revised Statutes § 480-3.1 establishes civil monetary penalties for violations of § 480-2, which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts and practices in trade or commerce. Fines range from $500 to $10,000 for each violation, and because every day a violation continues counts as a separate violation, penalties can accumulate quickly. These civil penalties are collected through court action and stack on top of any other remedies or penalties available under Hawaii law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Hawaii should be aware that § 480-3.1 ties directly to the unfair or deceptive practices prohibition in § 480-2, meaning that rental-related conduct such as misleading advertising, deceptive lease terms, or other unfair practices can trigger per-day civil penalties. Compliant operators generally ensure that all representations made to prospective and current tenants are accurate, that lease agreements are transparent, and that business practices conform to § 480-2's standards. Because penalties accumulate daily and are cumulative with other legal remedies, operators typically address any potential compliance gaps promptly rather than allowing a problematic practice to continue.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 480-3.1, tenants who believe a landlord has engaged in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in violation of § 480-2 may have recourse through Hawaii's consumer protection framework. The civil penalties established by this provision are enforced by the Attorney General or the Director of the Office of Consumer Protection, meaning tenants can report suspected violations to those offices for potential state action. Tenants may also wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service to understand how § 480-3.1's penalties interact with any private remedies that may be available under Hawaii law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 23, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation