§521-63 Tenant's remedy of termination at any time; unlawful removal or exclusion. (a) If any condition within the premises deprives the tenant of a substantial part of the benefit and enjoyment of the tenant's bargain under the rental agreement, the tenant may notify the landlord in writing of the situation and, if the landlord does not remedy the situation within one week, terminate the rental agreement. The notice need not be given when the condition renders the dwelling unit uninhabitable or poses an imminent threat to the health or safety of any occupant. The tenant may not terminate for a condition caused by the want of due care by the tenant, a member of the tenant's family, or other person on the premises with the tenant's consent.
(b) If the condition referred to in subsection (a) was caused wilfully or negligently by the landlord, the tenant may recover any damages sustained as a result of the condition.
(c) If the landlord removes or excludes the tenant from the premises overnight without cause or without court order so authorizing, the tenant may recover possession or terminate the rental agreement and, in either case, recover an amount equal to two months rent or free occupancy for two months, and the cost of suit, including reasonable attorney's fees. If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall comply with section 521-44(c). The court may also order any injunctive or other equitable relief it deems proper. If the court determines that the removal or exclusion by the landlord was with cause or was authorized by court order, the court may award the landlord the cost of suit, including reasonable attorney's fees if the attorney is not a salaried employee of the landlord or the landlord's assignee. [L 1972, c 132, pt of §1; am L 1981, c 235, §2; gen ch 1985]
Rules of Court
Injunctions, see HRCP rule 65.
Case Notes
No discretion to deny damages upon breach. 67 H. 549, 696 P.2d 839 (1985).
Structure Hawaii Revised Statutes
521. Residential Landlord-Tenant Code
521-2 Purposes; rules of construction.
521-3 Supplementary general principles of law, other laws, applicable.
521-4 Construction against implicit repeal.
521-6 Territorial application.
521-7 Exclusions from application of chapter.
521-9 Notice, notification, knowledge, etc.
521-10 Duties; obligation of good faith.
521-22 Term of rental agreement.
521-31 Waiver; agreement to forego rights; settlement of claims.
521-32 Separation of rents and obligations to property forbidden.
521-33 Landlord's waiver of liability prohibited.
521-34 Authorization to confess judgment prohibited.
521-37 Subleases and assignments.
521-38 Tenants subject to rental agreement; notice of conversions.
521-39 Medical cannabis; tenant use; eviction.
521-41 Landlord to supply possession of dwelling unit.
521-42 Landlord to supply and maintain fit premises.
521-43 Rental agreement, disclosure.
521-45 Limitation of landlord and management liability.
521-51 Tenant to maintain dwelling unit.
521-52 Tenant to use properly.
521-54 Tenant to use and occupy.
521-55 Tenant's responsibility to inform landlord.
521-56 Disposition of tenant's abandoned possessions.
521-61 Tenant's remedies for failure by landlord to supply possession.
521-62 Tenant's remedy of termination at beginning of term.
521-63 Tenant's remedy of termination at any time; unlawful removal or exclusion.
521-64 Tenant's remedy of repair and deduction for minor defects.
521-65 Tenant's remedies for fire or casualty damage.
521-66 Tenant's right to refund of rent, etc., on termination; return of security deposit.
521-67 Tenant's remedy for failure by landlord to disclose.
521-68 Landlord's remedies for failure by tenant to pay rent.
521-69 Landlord's remedies for tenant's waste, failure to maintain, or unlawful use.
521-71 Termination of tenancy; landlord's remedies for holdover tenants.
521-72 Landlord's remedies for improper use.
521-73 Landlord's and tenant's remedies for abuse of access.
521-74 Retaliatory evictions and rent increases prohibited.
521-74.5 Recovery of possession limited.
521-77 Investigation and resolution of complaints by the office of consumer protection.
521-80 Early termination of tenancy; victims of domestic violence.
521-81 Change of locks; victims of domestic violence.