Security deposit interest in Hawaii
No — Hawaii does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits.
There is no interest to calculate — here is what does apply
Hawaii sets no interest requirement, so there is no figure to work out. The rules below are the ones that decide whether you get your deposit back in full, which is usually the larger sum anyway.
Deadline to return your deposit
14 days after the tenancy ends.
Miss it and the consequences below start to apply.
What to do next
- Give your landlord a written forwarding address. Several states make the return duty conditional on it, and Hawaii's rules are summarised below.
- Photograph the unit at move-out, dated, before you hand back the keys. The dispute is almost always about condition.
- If the deadline passes, put the request in writing and cite Haw. Rev. Stat. Sec. 521-44. Keep a copy of what you sent and when.
Not legal advice. This is general information, not legal advice. Security deposit laws change and vary by jurisdiction. Verify with the cited statute or consult a licensed attorney in your state before taking action.
What does Hawaii law actually say?
Hawaii does not require landlords to pay interest on residential security deposits. The statute contains no interest provision and imposes no escrow or separate account requirement. Deposits are capped at one month's rent, plus one additional month's rent where the tenant keeps a pet, though this pet deposit does not apply to tenants with an assistance animal.
A landlord may also require an additional month's rent as prepaid rent where the tenant may keep a pet. The deposit is held to remedy tenant defaults in rent, to repair damage beyond normal wear and tear, to clean the unit on termination, and to compensate for unreasonable use. Within fourteen days of termination the landlord must return the deposit or provide a written itemised statement of any deductions, delivered to the tenant's last known address, and failure to give that notice within fourteen days forfeits all rights to withhold any portion.
If the tenant refuses a mutual pre-move-out inspection the deadline extends to thirty days. Any lease provision waiving these rights is void. The section does not apply to transient occupancy in hotels or similar lodging.
What if your landlord does not comply?
No interest obligation, so no interest penalty. Failure to give the required written notice within fourteen days forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any part of the deposit. Wrongful or wilful retention makes the landlord liable for up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney fees and costs. A landlord who fails to return the deposit within the deadline is liable for those damages regardless of the reason.