Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in Hawaii?
Yes, within limits. In Hawaii, if a landlord does not begin repairs within twelve business days after the tenant’s written notice of a defect (three business days for electrical, plumbing and other facilities needed for a sanitary home, or seven days after a health or safety notice from a government agency), the tenant may have the work done and deduct up to $1,000 or one month’s rent, whichever is greater, after giving the landlord receipts. Repairs charged to the landlord may not exceed three months’ rent in any six months. Each step has to be followed as the statute sets it out, including the written notice and the waiting period, or the deduction can be treated as unpaid rent. This is Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-64.
| What | Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Repair and deduct | Allowed by statute, within a cap |
| Limit | Up to $1,000 or one month’s rent, whichever is greater |
Source
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-64
Read the statute in the Hawaii Revised Statutes (Hawaii State Legislature): capitol.hawaii.gov.
Checked against the statute on October 23, 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
Every deadline on this page runs from the tenant’s notice. A repair request filed in Seayora keeps the date it was made and every update after it, on the website and both phone apps, so owner and tenant are working from the same date.
Guides on this rule
- How Long Does a Landlord Have to Make Repairs? Deadlines by State — Repair deadlines after a tenant’s notice in Washington, Texas, Arizona, Oregon, California and Florida, and what a tenant may do if the landlord misses one.
Compare this rule in every state
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