Ewa Gentry is a master-planned community in Honolulu County on the western (Ewa) plain of Oahu, one of the fastest-growing residential areas in Hawaii. Renters in Ewa Gentry are governed by the Hawaii Residential Landlord-Tenant Code (HRS Chapter 521), a comprehensive statute that provides meaningful protections around security deposits, habitability, and eviction procedures.
Honolulu County does not have an active rent control ordinance. While HRS § 666-20 allows counties to adopt rent regulations, no such ordinance exists in Honolulu County today. Ewa Gentry renters' rights are therefore defined entirely by state law.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Renters facing urgent housing issues should contact the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii or the Hawaii Appleseed Center listed at the bottom of this page.
Ewa Gentry has no rent control. Honolulu County has not enacted any rent control or rent stabilization ordinance, and while Hawaii state law (HRS § 666-20) permits counties to do so, none is currently in effect in Honolulu County. There are no caps on rent increases in Ewa Gentry, and landlords are not required to justify the size of any increase.
To terminate a month-to-month tenancy, a landlord must give at least 45 days' written notice, and a tenant must give at least 28 days' written notice (HRS § 521-71). If you are on a fixed-term lease, your rent is locked in until the lease expires.
Hawaii's Residential Landlord-Tenant Code (HRS Chapter 521) provides the following key protections for Ewa Gentry renters:
Security Deposit Cap: Landlords may collect a maximum of one month's rent as a security deposit (HRS § 521-44). Any excess must be returned or credited to you.
Deposit Return: Your landlord must return your deposit within 14 days of move-out, along with a written itemized statement of any deductions. Wrongful withholding entitles you to three times the amount withheld plus attorney fees (HRS § 521-44(b)).
Habitability: Hawaii imposes a strong implied warranty of habitability (HRS § 521-42). Landlords must maintain rental units in a safe and habitable condition — functional plumbing, weatherproofing, freedom from infestation, and structurally sound premises. Tenants may withhold rent or terminate the lease for serious habitability failures after providing written notice (HRS § 521-62).
Retaliation Protection: Landlords cannot retaliate against tenants for reporting code violations, contacting government agencies, or exercising any legal right (HRS § 521-74.5).
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition: Self-help eviction is illegal. Landlords cannot change locks, remove belongings, or interrupt utilities to force a tenant out without a court order (HRS § 521-63).
Security deposit rules for Ewa Gentry renters are set by HRS § 521-44.
Cap: Your landlord may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit. Any amount above this must be returned or credited.
Return Deadline: Your landlord must return your deposit — along with a written itemized list of deductions — within 14 days of the date you vacate and provide a forwarding address. Provide your forwarding address in writing at move-out to start the clock.
Allowable Deductions: Deductions are permitted for unpaid rent and physical damage beyond normal wear and tear. Ordinary wear — minor scuffs, small nail holes, light carpet wear — is not chargeable. Take dated photos and video at both move-in and move-out.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If your landlord fails to return the deposit within 14 days without valid reason, you may sue for three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees (HRS § 521-44(b)).
Landlords in Ewa Gentry must follow Hawaii's formal eviction process. Self-help removal — changing locks, removing belongings, or cutting off utilities — is prohibited by HRS § 521-63.
Step 1 — Written Notice: The landlord must serve the appropriate written notice. For termination of a month-to-month tenancy without cause, a landlord must give at least 45 days' written notice, and a tenant must give at least 28 days' written notice, under HRS § 521-71. For nonpayment of rent, a 10-calendar-day written notice to pay or vacate is required (HRS § 521-68, as amended by Act 278, effective February 5, 2026); if the tenant requests mediation within those 10 days, the landlord cannot file for summary possession until the 21st day.
Step 2 — District Court Filing: If you do not vacate or cure the breach, the landlord may file a summary possession action in Honolulu District Court.
Step 3 — Hearing: You have the right to appear and present defenses, including habitability violations, retaliation, or improper notice. Contact the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii before your hearing if you need assistance.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If the court rules for the landlord, only a court-authorized officer may physically remove you — never the landlord directly.
This article provides general information about tenant rights in Ewa Gentry and is not legal advice. Laws and local ordinances may have changed since publication. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Hawaii attorney or contact the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.
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