Hawaii Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (10-Day)
Create a free Hawaii notice to pay rent or quit. Hawaii requires a 10-day notice to pay rent or quit. Fill in the details, preview it live, and download a PDF or email it.
Hawaii requirement
Hawaii requires a 10-day notice to pay rent or quit. CRITICAL RECENT REFORM CONFIRMED: Act 278 (2025), HRS 521-68(a) as amended (L 2025, c 278, §2), replaced the longstanding 5-business-day pay-or-quit notice with a 10-CALENDAR-DAY notice effective February 5, 2026; the 10-day figure is current law as of June 2026 (this section is set for repeal and reenactment Feb 4, 2028, but the subsection (a) amendment is statutorily exempt from that repeal/reenactment per L 2025, c 278, §7(2)). The notice must include landlord/tenant contact info, the dwelling address, the current rent due, and a bold mediation warning, and a copy must be sent to a state-funded mediation center. If the tenant schedules mediation within the 10-day window, the landlord may not file for summary possession until 20 calendar days after the tenant's receipt of the notice (unless the tenant fails to appear or cancels). The Judiciary must prepare and post a fillable notice form. (Pre-Feb-4-2026 version required only 5 business days.)
Tenant Name(s)
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⚠ Hawaii requires a 10-day notice for a notice to pay rent or quit; the count runs from the date of SERVICE, and some states exclude weekends/holidays — verify before relying on a date. CRITICAL RECENT REFORM CONFIRMED: Act 278 (2025), HRS 521-68(a) as amended (L 2025, c 278, §2), replaced the longstanding 5-business-day pay-or-quit notice with a 10-CALENDAR-DAY notice effective February 5, 2026; the 10-day figure is current law as of June 2026 (this section is set for repeal and reenactment Feb 4, 2028, but the subsection (a) amendment is statutorily exempt from that repeal/reenactment per L 2025, c 278, §7(2)). The notice must include landlord/tenant contact info, the dwelling address, the current rent due, and a bold mediation warning, and a copy must be sent to a state-funded mediation center. If the tenant schedules mediation within the 10-day window, the landlord may not file for summary possession until 20 calendar days after the tenant's receipt of the notice (unless the tenant fails to appear or cancels). The Judiciary must prepare and post a fillable notice form. (Pre-Feb-4-2026 version required only 5 business days.)
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (Hawaii)
NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUIT
Date of Notice: ________________
From (Landlord/Agent): [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME], [LANDLORD ADDRESS]
To: [TENANT NAME(S)], Tenant(s) in possession of: [PROPERTY ADDRESS]
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that rent is now due and unpaid in the amount of $________. This amount is for unpaid RENT only and excludes late fees, utilities, and other charges unless your state and lease allow them.
You are required to PAY the full amount of rent due within 10 days after this notice is served on you, OR to vacate and surrender possession of the property. Payment must be made to [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] at [LANDLORD ADDRESS], by cash, check, or money order. If you mail payment, it must be RECEIVED by the deadline.
If you do not comply with this notice within the time stated, the landlord may begin legal proceedings to recover possession of the property under Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 521 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Code), esp. §§ 521-68, 521-69, 521-71, 521-72.
Only a court can order you to move out. The landlord may NOT lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off your utilities; doing so is illegal.
This notice is given without waiving, and the landlord expressly reserves, all other rights and remedies, including the right to recover unpaid rent and damages.
How this notice may be served: Notices are written and delivered to the tenant; if the tenant cannot be served, the notice may be posted in a conspicuous place on the dwelling unit (HRS 521-68, 521-69). Under the reformed nonpayment statute (effective Feb 5, 2026), a posted notice is deemed received on the date of posting, and a notice mailed by USPS (properly addressed, postage paid) is deemed received two business days after the postmark unless returned undeliverable.
_______________________________________
[LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] — Landlord / Authorized Agent
[LANDLORD ADDRESS]
Date: ________________
PROOF OF SERVICE
I served this notice on the tenant(s) on ____________ (date).
Method of service (use a method permitted in your state — see the service note above):
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________ Date: ____________
Signature of person serving the notice
Email yourself a copy (PDF)
Self-help template, not legal advice. You cannot remove a tenant yourself — serve a proper notice and, if needed, file in court. Confirm Hawaii and local rules first.
Hawaii Notice to Pay Rent or Quit Rules
A Notice to Pay Rent or Quit is the first step a landlord takes when a tenant has not paid rent. It demands that the tenant pay the full amount owed within the state's required number of days or move out, before the landlord can file for eviction.
Hawaii requires a 10-day notice to pay rent or quit. CRITICAL RECENT REFORM CONFIRMED: Act 278 (2025), HRS 521-68(a) as amended (L 2025, c 278, §2), replaced the longstanding 5-business-day pay-or-quit notice with a 10-CALENDAR-DAY notice effective February 5, 2026; the 10-day figure is current law as of June 2026 (this section is set for repeal and reenactment Feb 4, 2028, but the subsection (a) amendment is statutorily exempt from that repeal/reenactment per L 2025, c 278, §7(2)). The notice must include landlord/tenant contact info, the dwelling address, the current rent due, and a bold mediation warning, and a copy must be sent to a state-funded mediation center. If the tenant schedules mediation within the 10-day window, the landlord may not file for summary possession until 20 calendar days after the tenant's receipt of the notice (unless the tenant fails to appear or cancels). The Judiciary must prepare and post a fillable notice form. (Pre-Feb-4-2026 version required only 5 business days.) The notice is served under Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 521 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Code), esp. §§ 521-68, 521-69, 521-71, 521-72.
How to Serve a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit in Hawaii
Notices are written and delivered to the tenant; if the tenant cannot be served, the notice may be posted in a conspicuous place on the dwelling unit (HRS 521-68, 521-69). Under the reformed nonpayment statute (effective Feb 5, 2026), a posted notice is deemed received on the date of posting, and a notice mailed by USPS (properly addressed, postage paid) is deemed received two business days after the postmark unless returned undeliverable. A defective notice or improper service can get an eviction dismissed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days is a Hawaii notice to pay rent or quit?
Hawaii requires a 10-day notice to pay rent or quit. CRITICAL RECENT REFORM CONFIRMED: Act 278 (2025), HRS 521-68(a) as amended (L 2025, c 278, §2), replaced the longstanding 5-business-day pay-or-quit notice with a 10-CALENDAR-DAY notice effective February 5, 2026; the 10-day figure is current law as of June 2026 (this section is set for repeal and reenactment Feb 4, 2028, but the subsection (a) amendment is statutorily exempt from that repeal/reenactment per L 2025, c 278, §7(2)). The notice must include landlord/tenant contact info, the dwelling address, the current rent due, and a bold mediation warning, and a copy must be sent to a state-funded mediation center. If the tenant schedules mediation within the 10-day window, the landlord may not file for summary possession until 20 calendar days after the tenant's receipt of the notice (unless the tenant fails to appear or cancels). The Judiciary must prepare and post a fillable notice form. (Pre-Feb-4-2026 version required only 5 business days.)
What happens after I serve the notice?
If the tenant does not comply by the deadline, you can file an eviction case in Hawaii court. Only a court order, enforced by a sheriff or constable, can remove the tenant.
Can I email or download the notice?
Yes — fill in the form above, then download the PDF or email a copy to yourself. Serve it on the tenant using a method Hawaii allows.
Disclaimer
This Hawaii notice to pay rent or quit generator is a self-help tool for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Confirm Hawaii and local requirements before serving.