What is the eviction risk score for Lihue?

The landlord eviction risk score for Lihue, HI is 5.0 out of 10, rated Moderate risk.

Does Lihue have rent control?

The rent-control risk score for Lihue is 9.0 out of 10.

How long does an eviction take in Lihue?

Typical eviction timeline is about 153 days from notice to writ of possession.

Lihue, HI Eviction Risk Score Kauai County · Hawaii · Population 7,901

5.0 Moderate

★★★ High confidence

45.6%Tenant-law probabilityi

$8,162–16,388Typical eviction costi

153 daysTypical timelinei

0.86%Eviction filing ratei

$2,135HUD 2BR FMR 2025i

$1,956Median gross renti

40.0%Rent burdeni

36.2%Rentersi

Sub-score breakdown

Local political climate

6.8

Dem margin +28.8% in 2020

Regional political climate

6.8

Dem margin +28.8% in 2020

State political climate

5.5

Economic stress

3.6

6.3% poverty · 1.2% unemployed

Supply constraint

8.5

$1,956 median rent · 36.2% renters

Rent-control risk

9.0

40.0% rent burden

Eviction process difficulty

5.7

Tenant organizing strength

7.7

36.2% renters

Housing court bias

6.3

Eviction filing rate (ground truth)

1.1

0.86 filings per 100 renter households (county, latest year)

Voucher gap (market vs HUD FMR)

0.0

Market rent -8.4% vs HUD 2BR FMR ($2,135)

Sub-scores are national percentile rankings (1 = most landlord-friendly, 10 = most tenant-protective) derived from ACS 2023 5-year data, 2020 county presidential margin, and state law weighting. Source: ACS 2023 5-year + Gazetteer 2024.

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About eviction risk in Lihue, HI

Lihue, HI has an eviction risk score of 5.0 out of 10, placing it in the moderate-risk tier for landlords operating in Kauai County and the state of Hawaii. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.

Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 40.0% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Lihue is $1,956/month. About 36.2% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.

Economic stress: poverty rate 6.3%, unemployment 1.2%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.

Political climate: In 2020, Kauai County voted Democratic by 28.8 points — classified as strongly tenant-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.

What this score means for landlords

At 5.0/10, Lihue is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.