What happens if a tenant breaks a lease in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, a tenant who wrongfully quits the dwelling unit owes the lesser of the rent for the rest of the term or the rent for the time reasonably needed to re-rent the unit at the fair rental plus any rent shortfall and a reasonable commission, whether or not the landlord re-rents. The statute does not state a duty to re-rent in so many words. It limits what the landlord can recover to the lesser of the two amounts, and the second amount applies when it is lower whether or not the landlord re-rents the dwelling unit. It applies when the tenant unequivocally indicates by words or deeds an intention not to resume the tenancy. Separately, federal law lets a servicemember end a lease early after receiving qualifying military orders. This is Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-70.
| What | Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Landlord’s duty to re-rent | Damages capped by statute |
| What it means | The statute limits what the landlord can recover |
Source
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-70
Read the statute in the Hawaii Revised Statutes (Hawaii State Legislature): capitol.hawaii.gov.
Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora keeps every lease’s term, rent and signers in one record and dates every change to it. This page states the state’s rule so a lease’s own early-termination and sublet clauses can be checked against it before the lease is signed.
Guides on this rule
- Breaking a Lease by State: What the Tenant Owes — What a tenant owes after leaving a lease early, and the 34 states whose statutes say whether the landlord must try to re-rent the home.
Compare this rule in every state
More Hawaii rules
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Hawaii?
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Hawaii?
- How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in Hawaii?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering in Hawaii?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in Hawaii?
- How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in Hawaii?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late rent fee in Hawaii?
- What are squatters’ rights in Hawaii?
- Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Hawaii?
- Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Hawaii?
- Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in Hawaii?
- Can a tenant sublet in Hawaii?
- Do contractors charge sales tax in Hawaii?
- Is a capital improvement exempt from sales tax in Hawaii?
- Is appliance repair taxable in Hawaii?
- Is contractor labor taxable in Hawaii?
- Every Hawaii rule on one page
The same question in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky