Hawaii security deposit law
What if my landlord never sent an itemized statement in Hawaii?
The short answer
That is a violation in Hawaii: HRS § 521-44 requires an itemized statement of deductions within 14 days, and it strips the landlord's justification for withholding.
In Hawaii, the itemized statement is not a courtesy, it is a legal requirement: HRS § 521-44 obligates the landlord to list every deduction within 14 days of move out.
Skipping it matters: without an itemization, the landlord has no documented justification for keeping your money, and a court has nothing to weigh on their side.
Your move is the same either way: a demand letter that cites the requirement, states that no itemization was received within the 14 days deadline, and demands the full deposit with the statutory exposure of up to 3x the deposit spelled out. Send it certified. A landlord who ignored the paperwork rarely wants to explain that to a judge in District Court — Small Claims Division.
The Hawaii rules at a glance. Governing statute: HRS § 521-44. Return deadline: 14 days. Statutory damages: up to 3x the deposit for wrongful withholding. Attorney's fees: recoverable in qualifying cases. Court for disputes: District Court — Small Claims Division, claims up to $5,000.
Looking for the rules beyond this state? My landlord kept my deposit and didn't give me an itemized statement
See what your landlord owes you under Hawaii law.
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