The Honolulu security deposit demand letter that gets deposits back.
Your Honolulu landlord must act within 14 days after termination under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44. If they missed it, the statute is written on your side. We cite the statute, mail your demand USPS Certified, and track the response.
The law that protects your deposit
Deposits in Honolulu are governed by Hawaii state law: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-44. Wrongful and willful retention can make the landlord liable for three times the amount wrongfully retained, plus the cost of suit; missing the 14-day notice forfeits the right to retain any of it. Full Hawaii deadline & penalty guide →
If the landlord ignores your letter
Deposit claims from Honolulu are typically filed in the small-claims court serving Honolulu County — designed for people without lawyers, with modest filing fees.
Honolulu at a glance
Population ~344,000 (U.S. Census 2024 estimate, rounded). Every deposit dispute here runs on the same clock: the 14-day statutory window — and a certified letter is the documented first step.
General legal information, not legal advice. City-specific ordinances change; verify current rules or consult a licensed Hawaii attorney.