Haw. Rev. Stat. § 666 § 666-3
Forfeiture, warning, notice to vacate, refunds.
Operative Text
(a) Any tenancy created by or described in section 666-2 shall be subject to forfeiture where the tenant or any invitee or employee of the tenant commits any act, or causes any condition to exist, within or upon the rented premises which act or condition constitutes a nuisance as defined in section 712-1270. (b) A written notice shall first be delivered by the landlord to the tenant warning the tenant to abate or cause to be abated the common nuisance within twenty-four hours from the time the notice is delivered. If the common nuisance complained of remains unabated after twenty-four hours from the time the notice is delivered to the tenant, the landlord may terminate the tenancy by a written notice to vacate the premises within five days from the date the second notice is delivered to the tenant. Where rent has been paid in advance by the tenant, refund shall be made by the landlord of the amount of rent so paid covering the period from the date the rent was paid to and including the date the premises are vacated. If the tenant fails or refuses to vacate the premises within five days from the date of delivery of the second notice, then in case rent has been paid in advance, the landlord shall make a tender of the amount of the refund of rent to which the tenant would have been entitled had the tenant vacated the premises upon the date the notice to vacate was delivered to the tenant. Thereafter, upon the continued failure or refusal on the part of the tenant to vacate, the landlord may proceed, without further notice, to evict the tenant in any manner authorized by law. [L 1937, c 209, §1; RL 1945, §10403; RL 1955, §240-3; HRS §666-3; gen ch 1985; am L 1986, c 195, §3]
Hawaii Revised Statutes § 666-3 establishes a two-step notice process that applies when a tenant, or someone the tenant has invited or employed, creates or maintains a nuisance (as defined under § 712-1270) on rented premises. First, the landlord must deliver a written warning giving the tenant 24 hours to eliminate the nuisance; if the nuisance continues after that period, a second written notice gives the tenant five days to vacate. If the tenant has prepaid rent, the landlord is required to refund the portion covering the period from payment through the date the premises are actually vacated, and if the tenant refuses to leave, the landlord may pursue eviction through any legally authorized means.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 666-3, compliant landlords document nuisance conditions carefully before initiating the notice process, ensuring the first written warning is delivered in a verifiable manner and clearly identifies the nuisance to be abated within 24 hours. If the nuisance persists, operators issue a second written notice to vacate within five days, again with documented delivery. Landlords who have received prepaid rent calculate and tender the appropriate refund promptly, as the statute requires this even if the tenant ultimately refuses to leave.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 666-3 provides tenants with a structured notice sequence before a landlord can move toward eviction for nuisance-related conduct — a 24-hour abatement warning followed by a five-day notice to vacate — meaning a landlord generally cannot skip directly to eviction proceedings. Tenants who have paid rent in advance are entitled to a refund covering the unused portion of that prepaid period, and this right exists regardless of whether the tenant chooses to vacate voluntarily. Tenants who believe a notice was improperly issued or that the alleged nuisance does not meet the legal definition under § 712-1270 may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service to understand available options.
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.
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