DisputeKit / States / Hawaii
Your consumer rights in Hawaii
What Hawaii and federal law say about getting a security deposit back, refunds and cancelling subscriptions, with the law cited and a sample letter for each.
Security deposits
14 days. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 521-44, a landlord must return the security deposit, or the part not retained, together with written notice of the particulars of and grounds for any amount retained and written evidence of the costs (such as estimates, invoices or receipts) within 14 days. The clock starts when you move out and hand back possession of the unit. If they miss that deadline, they lose the right to keep any part of the deposit. A court may also award damages of up to three times the amount of the deposit wrongfully and wilfully retained, plus the cost of suit.
Refunds
If a company won't refund you, send a written demand with a clear deadline. If you paid by credit card, you may also be able to dispute the charge: Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, a billing-error dispute must reach the card issuer in writing within 60 days after the first statement showing the charge.
Subscriptions
Hawaii has its own automatic-renewal law for subscriptions, on top of the federal Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act.
Small claims and complaints in Hawaii
- Hawaii consumer law
- Hawaii Revised Statutes § 480-2
- Where to file a complaint
- Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs)
- Small claims limit
- $5,000 for money claims; residential security deposit disputes are heard in small claims with no dollar limit
- Filing fee
- $35 filing fee, plus the cost of serving the other party