Plain-English Reference · Hawaii Landlord-Tenant Law

📖 Glossary of
Tenant & Court Terms

Plain-English definitions for what you'll encounter in Hawaii landlord-tenant matters. Court documents are written for lawyers — these definitions are written for tenants.

A

AG (Attorney General)
The chief legal officer of the State of Hawaii. The AG's Consumer Protection Division investigates unfair or deceptive practices by businesses, including landlords. You can file a complaint at no cost; the office may investigate, mediate, or refer the matter for enforcement.
Why it matters: An AG complaint creates a public record and often gets a quicker management response than a private letter. File an AG complaint →
Astroturfing
A deceptive practice where paid or coordinated actors pose as independent supporters to fake grassroots enthusiasm. In the rental context, it usually means coordinated five-star reviews planted by management, employees, or paid services to bury legitimate negative reviews.
Why it matters: Hawaii treats false reviews as deceptive trade practices. If you suspect a property's review profile is astroturfed, that's reportable to the Hawaii AG and the FTC.
Astroturf review
An individual fake or incentivized positive review, typically posted to inflate a star rating or drown out a negative experience. Common signs: vague language, identical phrasing across reviews, reviewer accounts with single-property review histories, or sudden review surges after bad press.
Why it matters: Spotting astroturf reviews is the first step to seeing the actual reputation pattern. See cross-platform rating analysis →

B

BREG (Business Registration Division)
A division of the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) that registers all businesses operating in the state — LLCs, corporations, trade names, and DBAs. BREG records are public and searchable for free at hbe.ehawaii.gov.
Why it matters: BREG tells you who actually owns or runs your landlord's business — the legal entity you'd name in a lawsuit. See the AMC LLC dossier →

C

Certified Mail with Return Receipt
A USPS mailing service that produces a signed proof of delivery. The recipient signs for the letter and you receive that signature card back. Costs roughly $7–$10 total. The legally preferred way to send demand letters, repair requests, and any notice that might later be disputed.
Why it matters: "I never got it" is the single most common landlord defense. Certified mail with return receipt makes that defense impossible. Generate a demand letter →
Circuit Court (Hawaii)
Hawaii's general-jurisdiction trial court. Civil cases over $40,000, complex matters, and some appeals from District Court go here. Maui's Circuit Court is in Wailuku. Tenant-initiated suits against a property for major damages or class claims would typically be filed in Circuit Court.
Why it matters: The two tenant-initiated cases against the Sunset Terrace property (2CC171000510 and 2CC171000253, both 2017) were filed in 2nd Circuit Court — Civil. See the dossier →
Civil case
A non-criminal lawsuit between two parties — typically over money, contracts, property, or rights. Most landlord-tenant disputes (deposits, repairs, evictions) are civil cases. The losing party owes money or must do something, but does not face jail.
Why it matters: Lower burden of proof than criminal cases — "preponderance of evidence" rather than "beyond reasonable doubt." Your documentation is what wins or loses.
Class action
A single lawsuit brought by one or more named plaintiffs on behalf of a larger group ("class") of similarly-situated people. If management has engaged in the same wrongful conduct against many tenants, individual claims may combine into a class action — significantly increasing leverage and reducing per-tenant cost.
Why it matters: A class action can address a pattern that individual small-claims cases can't reach. Anonymous interest registration →
Complainant
The party who files a complaint — either with a court (where they're called the plaintiff) or with an administrative agency such as the Hawaii AG, HUD, or the Civil Rights Commission.
Why it matters: If you file an AG complaint, you are the complainant. Your written statement of facts becomes part of the official agency record.
Complaint (legal document)
The opening document in a lawsuit. It identifies the parties, lays out the facts, states the legal claims, and asks the court for specific relief (money, possession, an order). Service of the complaint and a summons starts the defendant's clock to respond.
Why it matters: If you're served with a complaint in Summary Possession, you have 5 days to respond in writing — including weekends. Missing that deadline forfeits your case.

D

DBA (Doing Business As)
A trade name a business uses publicly that differs from its legal entity name. Registered with Hawaii BREG. A landlord may operate under a friendly-sounding property name while the actual lease is signed by an LLC with a different name.
Why it matters: "Sunset Terrace" is a DBA; the legal entity is "Maui Beachfront Residential, LLC." On a demand letter or court filing, you must name the legal entity. See the entity dossier →
Defendant
The party being sued. Receives a summons and a complaint and must file a written answer within the deadline set by the court. In a Summary Possession (eviction), the tenant is the defendant.
Why it matters: Being a defendant is not the same as losing — it just means somebody filed against you. Filing a written answer and showing up at the hearing is what determines the outcome.
Demand letter
A written notice formally requesting that the recipient do something — typically return a security deposit, fix a habitability issue, or pay damages — by a stated deadline, before a lawsuit is filed. Sent via certified mail with return receipt to create a legal record.
Why it matters: Many disputes resolve at the demand-letter stage because most landlords would rather pay than litigate. Generate one →
District Court (Hawaii)
Hawaii's lower trial court — handles civil cases up to $40,000, traffic, small claims, and Summary Possession (eviction). Maui District Court is in Wailuku. Most landlord-tenant matters originate here.
Why it matters: If you're suing or being sued by your landlord, this is almost certainly the court. Maui District Court phone: 808-244-2800.
Disposition (case disposition)
How a case ended — judgment for plaintiff, judgment for defendant, dismissed, settled, or other procedural outcome. Listed on Hawaii eCourt Kokua next to each case.
Why it matters: When researching a landlord's litigation history, the disposition column tells you what actually happened — not just that a case was filed.

E

ESA (Emotional Support Animal)
An animal that provides emotional, psychological, or therapeutic support to a person with a disability. Under the federal Fair Housing Act and Hawaii HRS §515-3, ESAs are a reasonable accommodation — landlords cannot deny them, charge pet deposits for them, or impose pet rules on them.
Why it matters: Any landlord charging you a "pet fee" for an ESA may be violating federal Fair Housing law. See Fair Housing rights →
Eviction (vs. Summary Possession)
"Eviction" is the everyday word; "Summary Possession" is the formal name for Hawaii's expedited eviction procedure. In Hawaii, only a court can evict — a landlord cannot legally change the locks, shut off utilities, or remove your belongings without a court order. That is "self-help eviction" and it is illegal.
Why it matters: If your landlord locks you out, calls the police — they're committing an unlawful act, not enforcing one. Document everything and contact Hawaii Legal Aid: 808-244-3731.

F

Fair Housing Act
Federal law (42 U.S.C. §3601 et seq.) prohibiting housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. Includes the duty to provide reasonable accommodations such as Emotional Support Animals.
Why it matters: Fair Housing complaints are filed with HUD at 1-800-669-9777. There is no filing fee. Fair Housing rights →
FOIA / UIPA
FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) is the federal public-records law. UIPA (Uniform Information Practices Act) is Hawaii's state-level equivalent. Both let any person request government records — court files, agency communications, inspection reports — usually for free or a small copy fee.
Why it matters: If a county or state agency has inspected your building, you can request the report under UIPA without needing a lawyer.

H

Habitability
The legal duty of a landlord to keep a rental unit fit to live in — adequate water, electricity, heat where applicable, working appliances, structural soundness, and freedom from infestation. Codified in Hawaii at HRS §521-42. Applies regardless of what the lease says — you cannot waive habitability.
Why it matters: A breach of habitability can support rent escrow, rent reduction, or lease termination — but only with proper written documentation and (ideally) legal guidance first.
HRS (Hawaii Revised Statutes)
The codified body of Hawaii state law. Citations look like "HRS §521-44" — chapter 521, section 44. Landlord-tenant law is in HRS Chapter 521. Discrimination law is in HRS Chapter 515. The full code is searchable free at capitol.hawaii.gov.
Why it matters: When you cite a specific statute in a demand letter ("under HRS §521-44, you must return the deposit within 14 days"), you signal that you're prepared to litigate. That changes the response.

L

Landlord
Under HRS §521-8, the owner, lessor, sublessor, or other person entitled to receive rent — including the agent of any of those. A property-management company acting on the owner's behalf is treated as the landlord for purposes of duties owed to the tenant.
Why it matters: You can serve notices on the property manager, but the legal entity that owns the property is who you'd name in a lawsuit.
Lease
A written contract between landlord and tenant setting out rent, term, deposits, and rules. In Hawaii, leases over one year must be in writing (HRS §656-1, statute of frauds). Lease terms cannot waive statutory tenant rights — any clause that does is unenforceable.
Why it matters: Don't be intimidated by a clause that contradicts the law. The statute wins.
Litigation
The full process of resolving a dispute through the courts — filing, discovery, motions, hearings, trial, judgment, appeal. Most landlord-tenant litigation in Hawaii District Court is fast and procedural rather than full-blown trial.
Why it matters: Most disputes settle before trial. The threat of credible litigation is usually what brings a settlement.

M

Maui District Court
Hawaii's District Court for the County of Maui, located at 2145 Main Street, Wailuku, HI 96793. Phone: 808-244-2800. Handles all Summary Possession cases, small claims, and civil claims up to $40,000 originating in Maui County — including everything filed against tenants of Lahaina-area properties.
Why it matters: If you're suing your landlord in Lahaina or being sued by them, this is your courthouse. Small claims guide →

N

Notice (written notice)
A formal written communication that triggers a legal deadline or right. Hawaii landlord-tenant law requires written notice for many things: rent increases, lease termination, landlord entry (2 days), evictions, and tenant move-out. Verbal notice generally does not count.
Why it matters: The format and timing of notice matters more than what it says. If statute requires written notice and the landlord gave you a phone call, the notice probably isn't valid.

P

Petitioner
In some kinds of cases (TROs, name changes, family court), the party who files first is called the petitioner instead of plaintiff. The substance is the same — they started the case.
Why it matters: If you file a TRO against an abusive landlord or for harassment, you are the petitioner.
Plaintiff
The party who initiates a lawsuit by filing a complaint. In landlord-tenant litigation in Hawaii, the plaintiff is most often the landlord — they sue the tenant for possession (eviction) or money. In court records, the case caption reads "Plaintiff v. Defendant."
Why it matters: When a court record shows the property as "Plaintiff," it usually means the landlord sued a tenant. Counting how many of those exist is one measure of a property's litigation pattern.
Public records
Documents created or maintained by government that the public has a right to access. In Hawaii: court filings (eCourt Kokua), business registrations (BREG), inspection reports, county property records, agency correspondence (via UIPA request).
Why it matters: Almost every fact on this site comes from public records. You can verify them yourself for free.
PSI (Pre-Suit Inspection)
A documented inspection of a rental unit done before filing a lawsuit, typically to memorialize the condition of the property in support of a damages claim. Photos, video, third-party walkthrough notes, and timestamped evidence form a PSI record.
Why it matters: If you intend to sue for return of a deposit or damages, a thorough PSI on move-out day is your strongest evidence. Move-out checklist →

R

Regular Claim (Hawaii District Court)
A standard civil money-damages case filed in Hawaii District Court for amounts up to $40,000. Distinct from Small Claims (lower amounts, simpler procedure) and from Summary Possession (eviction). Typically used by landlords pursuing back rent or alleged damages beyond a security deposit.
Why it matters: If you receive paperwork captioned "Regular Claim," it's a money lawsuit — respond within the deadline on the summons (typically 20 days).
Respondent
In TROs, petitions, and some appeals, the party responding to the case (analogous to a defendant). The respondent receives the petition and must answer or appear.
Why it matters: If you're served as a respondent and ignore it, the petitioner often wins by default.
Retaliation
An illegal landlord action — rent hike, eviction, lease nonrenewal, removal of services — taken because a tenant exercised a legal right such as reporting a code violation, filing a complaint, or organizing other tenants. Prohibited under HRS §521-63.
Why it matters: If a rent increase or eviction notice arrives soon after you filed a complaint, that timing supports a retaliation defense. Document both events.

S

Security deposit
Money paid by the tenant at lease signing to protect the landlord against unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear. In Hawaii, capped at one month's rent under HRS §521-44, and must be returned within 14 days of move-out with itemized deductions.
Why it matters: Deposit disputes are the most common tenant lawsuit in Hawaii. Small Claims has no dollar limit for them — you can sue for any amount.
Service of process
The legal procedure for delivering court papers to a defendant (or respondent). In Hawaii, typically done by a process server or sheriff's deputy, in person or (by court permission) by certified mail or substitute service. Bad service can be a defense.
Why it matters: A case where you were never properly served can sometimes be reopened — even after a default judgment. Talk to Hawaii Legal Aid: 808-244-3731.
Small Claims Court (Hawaii)
A division of Hawaii District Court for disputes up to $5,000, designed to be navigable without a lawyer. For security-deposit disputes specifically, there is no dollar cap. Filing fee: $35. Cases typically scheduled within 30 days. Attorneys cannot represent either party in deposit cases.
Why it matters: The fastest, cheapest path to recover an unlawfully withheld deposit. Step-by-step guide →
Statute of limitations
The legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. After it passes, the claim is generally barred. In Hawaii, written-contract claims (including most lease disputes) have a 6-year statute of limitations under HRS §657-1; oral contracts have 6 years; personal injury has 2 years.
Why it matters: If your old landlord stiffed you on a deposit 5 years ago, you may still have time. See deadlines →
Summary Possession (Hawaii eviction)
Hawaii's expedited eviction procedure, filed in District Court. Faster than ordinary civil litigation: a defendant has only 5 days (including weekends) to file a written response after being served. If no response is filed, the landlord typically wins by default.
Why it matters: The 5-day clock is unforgiving. The instant you're served, find Hawaii Legal Aid (808-244-3731) and file something — even a basic written denial — to preserve your right to a hearing.

T

Tenancy
The legal relationship between landlord and tenant — the right to occupy a property in exchange for rent. Can be fixed-term (a one-year lease) or periodic (month-to-month). Tenancy creates duties on both sides under HRS Chapter 521.
Why it matters: Even an "unwritten" month-to-month tenancy carries the full set of statutory protections — habitability, deposit return, anti-retaliation.
TRO (Temporary Restraining Order)
An emergency court order prohibiting someone from doing a specific thing — entering a property, contacting a person, harassing — pending a fuller hearing. Filed without notice in true emergencies, then scheduled for review.
Why it matters: If a landlord or a person connected to the property is harassing or threatening you, a TRO is a real option. TRO cases involving the property are documented in the dossier →

U

UIPA (Uniform Information Practices Act)
Hawaii's state-level public-records law (HRS Chapter 92F). Lets any person request records from a Hawaii state or county agency — inspection reports, agency communications, court files, contracts. Most requests cost nothing or only a small copy fee.
Why it matters: A UIPA request can surface county code-enforcement records, fire-marshal inspections, or AG correspondence about a property without needing a lawyer.

W

Writ of Execution
A court order authorizing law enforcement to enforce a judgment. After a Summary Possession judgment, the writ authorizes a sheriff to physically remove a tenant. After a money judgment, a writ may authorize seizure of bank accounts or wages to satisfy the debt.
Why it matters: Only a writ — not the landlord — can lawfully physically remove you. If a landlord shows up to "evict" you without a writ executed by law enforcement, that's an unlawful self-help eviction.

Need more help?

This glossary is a starting point. If you're facing an actual landlord dispute right now, the resources below take the next step: