Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521 § 521-82
Court order to vacate; domestic violence.
Operative Text
(a) If a court of competent jurisdiction, in an action relating to domestic violence, has ordered the person who committed domestic violence against the tenant or immediate family member of the tenant to vacate the dwelling unit, upon issuance of the order, neither the landlord nor the tenant shall have any duty to: (1) Allow the person access to the dwelling unit, unless the person is accompanied by a law enforcement officer; or (2) Provide the person with keys to the dwelling unit. (b) If the person is a party to the rental agreement, then upon issuance of the court order requiring the person to vacate the dwelling unit, the person's interest in the tenancy shall terminate, and the landlord and tenant shall be entitled to any actual damages resulting from that termination. (c) Pursuant to section 521-80, the landlord shall return security deposits recoverable under section 521-44 and recoverable prepaid rent following the termination of the rental agreement and the surrender of the dwelling unit to the landlord. (d) The tenant shall not be required to pay any additional rent, fees, or security deposit because of the termination of the person's interest as a tenant of the dwelling unit. [L 2015, c 220, pt of §1]
Hawaii Revised Statutes § 521-82 addresses what happens when a court orders a domestic violence perpetrator to vacate a rental unit. Once such an order is issued, neither the landlord nor the remaining tenant is obligated to give the removed person access to the unit (unless accompanied by law enforcement) or provide them with keys. If the removed person was on the lease, their tenancy interest ends automatically upon the court order, and the remaining tenant is not required to pay extra rent, fees, or a new security deposit as a result of that termination.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-82, a compliant property owner or manager recognizes that a court vacate order in a domestic violence case immediately terminates the removed person's tenancy interest, without requiring the remaining tenant to sign a new lease or pay additional deposits or fees. Operators generally update access controls and refrain from providing keys to the removed individual, except when that person is accompanied by a law enforcement officer. Security deposits and prepaid rent recoverable under § 521-44 are returned in accordance with § 521-80 after the rental agreement ends and the unit is surrendered.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-82 provides important protections for tenants who have obtained a court order requiring a domestic violence perpetrator to vacate their dwelling unit. Once that order is issued, the remaining tenant cannot be charged additional rent, fees, or a new security deposit because of the perpetrator's removal from the lease, and the landlord has no obligation to allow the removed person back into the unit without law enforcement present. Tenants who believe these protections are not being honored may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Hawaii's residential landlord-tenant law for general information about available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 23, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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