Haw. Rev. Stat. § 666 § 666-4
Oral leases not exceeding one year, valid.
Operative Text
Notwithstanding other provisions of law to the contrary, oral leases of real property for any period not exceeding one year shall be valid and enforceable to all intents and purposes as if in writing. [L 1929, c 93, §1; RL 1935, §4016; RL 1945, §10404; RL 1955, §240-4; HRS §666-4]
Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 666-4, a spoken—rather than written—lease agreement for real property in Hawaii is legally valid and fully enforceable, provided the rental period covered does not exceed one year. This means that the absence of a written document does not automatically render such a short-term rental agreement unenforceable. The provision carves out an exception to any other laws that might otherwise require a lease to be in writing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 666-4 means that a property owner who enters into a verbal rental agreement for a term of one year or less has created a binding legal arrangement, even without a signed lease document. Compliant operators generally keep clear records of the agreed-upon terms—such as rent amount, duration, and any conditions—since an oral agreement, while valid, can be harder to prove if a dispute arises. Understanding that oral leases carry the same legal weight as written ones helps operators make informed decisions about how they document their rental arrangements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 666-4 establishes that tenants who have entered into a verbal rental agreement for up to one year hold enforceable rights under that agreement, just as they would under a written lease. If a landlord attempts to deny the existence or terms of an oral lease, a tenant may be able to raise the validity of that agreement as a defense or basis for a claim in a legal proceeding. Tenants who face disputes over the terms of an oral rental arrangement may find it helpful to gather any supporting evidence—such as payment records or communications—and to consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Hawaii housing 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.
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