Squatters' Rights in Hawaii
Hawaii rules on squatters & abandoned property for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: When a tenant has wrongfully quit, or left after a notice to quit or the end of the term, and abandoned belongings the landlord in good faith thinks have value, the landlord may sell them in a commercially reasonable manner, store them at the tenant's expense, or donate them to charity. HRS §§ 521-56, 521-85
The rules in Hawaii
| Belongings left behind | When a tenant has wrongfully quit, or left after a notice to quit or the end of the term, and abandoned belongings the landlord in good faith thinks have value, the landlord may sell them in a commercially reasonable manner, store them at the tenant's expense, or donate them to charity. Before selling or donating, the landlord must mail notice of the items, their location, and the intent to sell or donate to the tenant's forwarding or designated address (or last known address), and may not sell or donate until 15 days after mailing; a sale must be advertised in a daily newspaper for at least 3 consecutive days. Sale proceeds, after accrued rent and storage/sale/advertising costs, are held in trust for the tenant for 30 days, then forfeited to the landlord. Items of no value may be disposed of. Deceased tenant: the landlord must notify the tenant's designated representative (registered mail) or the estate; the tenancy ends 15 days after notice or the paid-through date, whichever is later, after which remaining property may be sold, stored or donated. § 521-85: https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol12_Ch0501-0588/HRS0521/HRS_0521-0085.htm. Source: HRS §§ 521-56, 521-85 |
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Related questions
Hawaii vs. neighboring states
| State | Squatters / unauthorized occupants | Belongings left behind |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | Not verified yet | When a tenant has wrongfully quit, or left after a notice to quit or the end of the term, and abandoned belongings the landlord in good faith thinks have value, the landlord may sell them in a commercially reasonable manner, store them at the tenant's expense, or donate them to charity. Before selling or donating, the landlord must mail notice of the items, their location, and the intent to sell or donate to the tenant's forwarding or designated address (or last known address), and may not sell or donate until 15 days after mailing; a sale must be advertised in a daily newspaper for at least 3 consecutive days. Sale proceeds, after accrued rent and storage/sale/advertising costs, are held in trust for the tenant for 30 days, then forfeited to the landlord. Items of no value may be disposed of. Deceased tenant: the landlord must notify the tenant's designated representative (registered mail) or the estate; the tenancy ends 15 days after notice or the paid-through date, whichever is later, after which remaining property may be sold, stored or donated. HRS §§ 521-56, 521-85 |
| California | California has no special fast-track squatter-removal statute. Entering and occupying property without the consent of the owner, the owner's agent, or the person in lawful possession is misdemeanor trespass. Refusing to leave property that is not open to the public, after the owner or a peace officer acting at the owner's request asks the person to leave, is also trespass. An owner can file one notarized request on the police agency's form so officers can act against trespassers for up to 12 months (or a shorter period set by local ordinance) while the owner is absent or the property is closed and posted. The request may be submitted electronically and ends if the property is sold. If police will not act (for example, because the occupant claims to be a tenant), the owner must go to court with an unlawful detainer or forcible detainer case (CCP 1159 et seq.). The occupant has 10 court days to respond after being served. A single lodger in an owner-occupied home who stays after a proper Civ. Code 1946.5 notice expires commits an infraction and may be arrested and removed. Cal. Penal Code § 602(m), (o) (as amended by SB 602, Stats. 2023, ch. 404); Cal. Penal Code § 602.3; Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1167 (as amended by AB 2347, Stats. 2024, ch. 512) | When belongings are left after a tenancy ends and the tenant has moved out, the landlord must give written notice to the tenant and to anyone the landlord reasonably believes owns the property. The notice must describe the property, say where it can be claimed, say that reasonable storage costs may be charged, and set a claim deadline at least 15 days after personal delivery or 18 days after mailing. Notice goes by personal delivery or first-class mail to the last known address, with a copy mailed to the vacated unit; email may also be used if the tenant provided an address. The landlord must keep the property on the premises or in safe storage with reasonable care. Property reclaimed within 2 days of move-out from the dwelling must be released without storage charges. Unclaimed property must be sold at a public sale advertised in a newspaper, with leftover proceeds paid to the county, where the owner can claim them within 1 year. If the landlord reasonably believes the total resale value is under $700, the landlord may keep or dispose of it. Property left after a sheriff's eviction lockout follows the same notice, storage, and disposal rules. Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1983-1988; Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1174(e)-(l) |
City rules that may add to state law
More Hawaii rental law
- Hawaii Security Deposit Law
- Hawaii Eviction Laws
- Hawaii Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Hawaii
- Hawaii Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Hawaii Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Hawaii
- Hawaii Rental Fee Rules
- Hawaii Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Hawaii Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Hawaii Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Hawaii Landlord Selling the House
- Hawaii Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- Hawaii Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Hawaii landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Hawaii
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Squatters' Rights in Hawaii FAQ
What can a landlord do with a tenant's abandoned property in Hawaii?
When a tenant has wrongfully quit, or left after a notice to quit or the end of the term, and abandoned belongings the landlord in good faith thinks have value, the landlord may sell them in a commercially reasonable manner, store them at the tenant's expense, or donate them to charity. Before selling or donating, the landlord must mail notice of the items, their location, and the intent to sell or donate to the tenant's forwarding or designated address (or last known address), and may not sell or donate until 15 days after mailing; a sale must be advertised in a daily newspaper for at least 3 consecutive days. Sale proceeds, after accrued rent and storage/sale/advertising costs, are held in trust for the tenant for 30 days, then forfeited to the landlord. Items of no value may be disposed of. Deceased tenant: the landlord must notify the tenant's designated representative (registered mail) or the estate; the tenancy ends 15 days after notice or the paid-through date, whichever is later, after which remaining property may be sold, stored or donated. (HRS §§ 521-56, 521-85)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.