Hawaii Eviction Notice Template (HRS § 521-68)
Before a landlord can file an eviction case, most states require a written notice that tells the tenant what is wrong and how long they have to fix it or move out. Answer the questions below to create a clear, professional notice — then check it against your state and local rules before you serve it.
Your details
No account needed. Your letter updates as you type.
Live preview
Free to preview[Landlord or property manager name]
[Your address and phone for the tenant to reach you]
October 15, 2026
To: [Tenant name(s)]
and all other occupants of
[Rental property address]
Re: [Type of notice] — [Rental property address]
Dear [Tenant name(s)],
This letter is formal written notice to you as the tenant of the property at [Rental property address]. Type of notice: [Type of notice].
The reason for this notice is as follows:
[Reason for this notice]
Within [Notice period in days] days after this notice is delivered to you, you must [What the tenant must do within that time]. If this notice is delivered to you on October 15, 2026, that period ends on October 15, 2026.
This notice is given under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 521-68, which requires written notice to the tenant before a landlord may terminate the rental agreement and file a summary possession case.
If you do not do so within that time, I intend to file an eviction case with the court to recover possession of the property. You will have the opportunity to respond in court, and you may not be removed from the property unless a court orders it. I will not remove you or your belongings or change the locks without a court order.
If you have questions about this notice, or wish to discuss payment or resolving the issue, please contact me in writing at the address above.
Sincerely,
[Landlord or property manager name]
Date this notice was delivered: ____________________
Method of delivery: ____________________
Delivered by: ____________________
- Clean PDF + editable Word (.docx)
- No watermark, print-ready on US Letter
- Download link emailed to you
One-time payment, secure checkout by Stripe. FairLetter is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Letters are templates you customize and send yourself.
How eviction notices work in Hawaii
Hawaii's Residential Landlord-Tenant Code sets the rent notice in HRS § 521-68. Under Act 278 of 2025, a pilot program running from February 5, 2026 through February 4, 2028, a landlord seeking to evict for nonpayment alone must first give at least 10 calendar days' written notice to pay. For a rule violation, § 521-72 lets the landlord give written notice allowing at least 10 days to fix the problem. Ending a month-to-month tenancy takes at least 45 days' written notice from the landlord under § 521-71.
The nonpayment notice must state that the tenant is in default, that the landlord may sue if payment isn't made within 10 days, and that the tenant may request free mediation. A copy must go to a mediation center, and the complaint must attach proof of that. A posted notice counts as received the day it's posted, and a mailed notice two business days after the postmark. If the tenant requests mediation within 10 days, the landlord must take part, and the landlord may file after 20 calendar days from when the tenant received the notice.
If the tenant doesn't pay, cure or move out, the landlord files a summary possession case in District Court. Hawaii prohibits self-help evictions: a landlord may not lock out a tenant without a court order, and § 521-74.5 bars taking possession by cutting off water, hot water, electricity, gas or other essential services. A tenant who is unlawfully locked out can recover two months' rent plus the cost of suit. Only an eviction ordered by a judge can remove a tenant.
What to do, step by step
Check your state and local rules first
Look up the notice period, required wording and delivery method for your state, county and city. Many places set different periods for unpaid rent, lease violations and ending a tenancy, and some cities add their own just-cause rules.
Fill in the notice
Answer the questions above. Name every adult tenant on the lease, state the facts plainly and enter the exact number of days your rules require.
Serve it the way your state requires
States specify how a notice must be delivered — commonly hand delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, posting and mailing, or certified mail. A notice served the wrong way may have to be redone.
Record how and when you served it
Write down the date, time, method and who delivered it, and keep a copy of the notice. Courts often ask for this proof of service.
Wait out the full notice period
Don't change the locks, remove belongings or shut off utilities. If the tenant fixes the problem, accept it as your rules require; if not, the next step is filing an eviction case in court.
What if the tenant doesn't respond to the notice?
An eviction notice is not an eviction. It is the written warning most states require before you can go to court. If the notice period ends and the tenant hasn't paid, fixed the violation or moved out, the next step is to file an eviction case — often called an unlawful detainer or summary possession case — with your local court.
Until a judge rules in your favor and a court officer such as a sheriff or marshal carries out the order, the tenant has the right to stay. Changing the locks, removing the tenant's belongings, cutting off utilities or otherwise forcing them out is a so-called self-help eviction, which is illegal in nearly every state and can expose you to damages.
Courts look closely at the notice itself. If the period was too short, the wording missed something your state requires or it was delivered the wrong way, the case can be dismissed and you may have to start over. Your local court's self-help center or a landlord association can tell you what your court expects.
Example Hawaii eviction notice
A filled-in sample with made-up details, so you can see the finished result.
Greenway Rentals LLC
PO Box 2210, Lakeview, MN 55401 · (555) 201-4478
October 5, 2026
To: Taylor Brooks and Jamie Brooks
and all other occupants of
56 Willow St, Unit 3, Lakeview, MN 55402
Re: Notice to pay rent or quit — 56 Willow St, Unit 3, Lakeview, MN 55402
Dear Taylor Brooks and Jamie Brooks,
This letter is formal written notice to you as the tenant of the property at 56 Willow St, Unit 3, Lakeview, MN 55402. Type of notice: Notice to pay rent or quit.
The reason for this notice is as follows:
Rent of $1,450 for the month of September 2026, due on September 1, 2026, has not been paid, despite a reminder sent by email on September 10.
The total amount of rent now due is $1,450.00.
Within 14 days after this notice is delivered to you, you must pay the full amount of rent owed or move out of the property. If this notice is delivered to you on October 5, 2026, that period ends on October 19, 2026.
This notice is given under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 521-68, which requires written notice to the tenant before a landlord may terminate the rental agreement and file a summary possession case.
If you do not do so within that time, I intend to file an eviction case with the court to recover possession of the property. You will have the opportunity to respond in court, and you may not be removed from the property unless a court orders it. I will not remove you or your belongings or change the locks without a court order.
If you have questions about this notice, or wish to discuss payment or resolving the issue, please contact me in writing at the address above.
Sincerely,
Greenway Rentals LLC
Date this notice was delivered: ____________________
Method of delivery: ____________________
Delivered by: ____________________
Frequently asked questions
How many days' notice for unpaid rent in Hawaii?
Under the Act 278 pilot, which runs from February 5, 2026 to February 4, 2028, at least 10 calendar days after the tenant receives written notice. Before the pilot, § 521-68 used a five-business-day notice. The pilot notice must also tell the tenant about free mediation, and a copy goes to a mediation center.
What is Hawaii's eviction mediation requirement?
During the pilot, the landlord sends a copy of the nonpayment notice to a mediation center. If the tenant requests mediation within 10 days, the landlord must participate, and mediation must take place within 30 days of the center contacting both sides. Mediation through the centers is free; each side pays its own legal fees.
How much notice ends a Hawaii month-to-month tenancy?
At least 45 days' written notice from the landlord, under HRS § 521-71, and no reason is required. A 120-day notice applies when the landlord plans to demolish the units or convert them to a condominium or transient vacation rentals. A tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy must give at least 28 days' notice.
What notice is required for a lease violation in Hawaii?
Under § 521-72, the landlord gives written notice describing the breach and allowing at least 10 days to remedy it. If the breach continues past that date, the landlord must sue within 30 days of the continued breach. Some violations, such as breaking state or county health and safety laws, allow the landlord to sue right away.
How much notice do I have to give a tenant?
It depends on your state, sometimes your city, the type of notice and the lease. Periods for unpaid rent can be as short as a few days or as long as a month, and notices ending a month-to-month tenancy are often 30 days or more. Check your state's landlord-tenant law and any local ordinance before serving.
Is an eviction notice the same as being evicted?
No. A notice only starts the process. If the tenant doesn't comply, the landlord must file a case in court and win a judgment. Only a court order, carried out by a sheriff, marshal or similar officer, can legally remove a tenant from the property.
FairLetter is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Letters are templates you customize and send yourself.