The Hawaii timeline, with dates
Here is the order of events when rent due on the 1st goes unpaid, using Hawaii's numbers and an example notice served on the 5th.
- The 1stRent is due (the example due date used throughout this page).
- Late feeLate charge may not exceed 8% of the amount of rent due; no statutory grace period.
- The 5th (example)You serve the notice: 10-calendar-day written notice to pay; tenant may request mediation, which delays filing (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68 (as amended by Act 278, 2025)).
- Not before the 15thThe 10-day period runs out. The exact last day depends on how the statute counts days and on how the notice was delivered.
- Earliest filingIf rent is still unpaid once the notice period has fully run, you can file an eviction case.
The dates are the earliest the numbers allow, not a promise: how days are counted, weekends, and the way the notice is delivered can all push them later. Read Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68 (as amended by Act 278, 2025) before you serve anything.
The notice for unpaid rent
10-calendar-day written notice to pay; tenant may request mediation, which delays filing. Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68 (as amended by Act 278, 2025) (via Nolo)
Among the 31 states we have verified, 19 require less notice (3 of them none at all), 5 others use the same 10 days as Hawaii, and 6 require a longer one. Among states that require a notice, the median is 7 days.
Late fees and the grace period
Late charge may not exceed 8% of the amount of rent due; no statutory grace period. Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-21(f)
Statutory limit: 8% of the rent due.
| Monthly rent | Maximum late fee |
|---|---|
| $1,000 | $80 |
| $1,500 | $120 |
| $2,500 | $200 |
Assumes the whole month's rent is unpaid and the lease provides for a late fee.
Hawaii is in the minority with a statutory limit. 12 of the 31 verified states cap late fees by statute, and 10 set a grace period before one can be charged.
What else to know in Hawaii
Notes from our review: Official HRS pages returned 403. Secondary sources say the 10-day notice + mediation regime is a pilot (Feb 5, 2026 - Feb 4, 2028) that replaced a 5-business-day notice; sources disagree on how long filing is delayed once mediation is scheduled.
Cities and counties can add their own rules on top of the state’s. At “covered properties” under the federal CARES Act — generally those with a federally backed mortgage or federal subsidies — a 30-day notice to vacate for nonpayment is required in every state.
States with the same notice period
| State | Notice | Grace period | Late-fee cap | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 10 days | None statewide | 8% of rent | Unverified |
| Colorado | 10 days | 7 days | Greater of $50 or 5% | Verified |
| Indiana | 10 days | None statewide | No statutory cap | Verified |
| Maryland | 10 days | None statewide | 5% of rent | Verified |
| North Carolina | 10 days | 5 days | Greater of $15 or 5% | Verified |
| Oregon | 10 days | 4 days | Statutory cap (see guide) | Verified |
Notice periods across the 31 verified states
| Notice before filing | States |
|---|---|
| No pre-filing notice | 3 |
| 3 days | 10 |
| 5 days | 3 |
| 7 days | 3 |
| 10 days | 5 |
| 14 days | 6 |
| No fixed number | 1 |
Sources
- Notice for unpaid rent: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-68 (as amended by Act 278, 2025) (via Nolo)
- Late fees and grace period: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-21(f)
- Status: secondary sources only — the statute text itself has not been read yet.