In court-decided eviction outcomes for Wainiha, HI, tenants prevail in roughly 47.5% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation, and landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
164d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Wainiha, HI until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 164 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$8.6–16.8k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Wainiha, HI costs landlords $8,589 to $16,793 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$2,563
37% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Wainiha, HI is $2,563 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 37% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
37.2%
of households
37.2% of occupied housing units in Wainiha, HI are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
5.0%
3.0% unemp.
5.0% of Wainiha, HI residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 3.0%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
Dem margin +19.5% (2024)
6.8
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
6.8
State political climate
Hawaii legislature & governorship
5.5
Economic stress
5.0% poverty · 3.0% unemp.
4.0
Supply constraint
$2,563 average · 37.2% renters
7.0
Rent Control risk
37.2% of income on rent
8.6
Eviction process difficulty
164 days filing → judgment
5.2
Tenant organizing strength
37.2% renters
7.0
Housing court bias
County bench composition
5.9
Geographic context
Risk heat across Wainiha and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Wainiha compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Kauai County
Moderate
#14of 23 cities
#14 of 23 cities in Kauai County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Hawaii
Low
#106of 161 cities
#106 of 161 cities in Hawaii for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
5.2
/ 10 · MODERATE
The verdict
A Moderate-tier market.
Composite 5.2/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a sharp climb.
50-yr trend+2.7 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steepening since 2010 · COVID inflection visible
164d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $2,563/mo. A contested eviction takes 164 days and costs $8,589–$16,793 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
37.2%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 362 residents, 37.2% rent. 37% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 5.0% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
6.8
Local + regional
The politics
Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 6.8 and 6.8 (Dem margin +19.5% (2024)). State climate at 5.5, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
5.5
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 5.5/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 5.2, housing court bias 5.9, rent-control risk 8.6. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +0.2 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
4
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 4. Supply constraint: 7. The numbers behind those: 5.0% poverty, 3.0% unemployment, 37% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Wainiha sits in the slow & expensive quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Wainiha · 164d · ~$12.7k all-in ($77/day) · score 5.2National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Wainiha, Hawaii, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 5.2/10 (MODERATE tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above, covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.
Wainiha is a city of 362 residents where 37.2% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 37.2% of income on rent. At an average rent of $2,563/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing, a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.
01Process
How Wainiha eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 5.2/10, a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in Wainiha closes 164 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.
The slow part of Wainiha's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 5.9/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.
02Cost
What it costs (and how long it takes)
An all-in eviction in Wainiha runs $8,589 to $16,793 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice, common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.
For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1–2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 164 days of typical timeline and $2,563/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 7/10 in Wainiha, and the city sits at the top of the rent control risk spectrum (8.6/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5 to 3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks, but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In Hawaii, deposit cap and refund window are statute, so exceed them at your own risk.
Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy
What an everyday landlord should actually do here
If you own one to four units in Wainiha: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a MODERATE tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one, since retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.
The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match Hawaii's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $16,793 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Wainiha
Trap · 28.8 POINTS
Politically, Kauai County voted Democratic by 28.8 points in 2020, a baseline that correlates with tenant-protective legislative pressure. Combined with 37.2% rent-to-income ratio, expect baseline enforcement of HRS 521.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
Can I really evict someone for not paying rent after only 5 days in Wainiha?
Yes, the law allows you to serve a 5-day pay-or-quit notice for non-payment of rent. After those 5 days, if the rent isn't paid, you can proceed with filing an eviction lawsuit in court. However, remember the court process itself is lengthy.
Q2
What if my tenant damages the property beyond the security deposit amount?
You can sue the tenant in small claims court for damages exceeding the security deposit. Keep detailed records, photos, and repair estimates. This is a separate legal action from the eviction itself, and collecting on such a judgment can be challenging.
Q3
Do I need an attorney for an eviction in Wainiha?
While not legally required, it's highly recommended. The eviction process in Hawaii is complex, with specific notice requirements and court procedures. An attorney will ensure you follow all rules, saving you time and money in the long run by avoiding costly mistakes or case dismissals. Given the 164-day timeline and high costs, professional help is a smart investment.
Q4
What's the best way to screen tenants in Wainiha to avoid problems?
A multi-pronged approach is best: verify income (aim for 3x rent), run credit and background checks for criminal history and past evictions, and crucially, contact previous landlords. Ask specific questions about payment history, property care, and whether they would rent to the tenant again. Don't rely on just one factor.
Q5
Can I charge a late fee if the rent is not paid on time?
Yes, your lease agreement should clearly state any late fees. In Hawaii, late fees must be reasonable and cannot be considered a penalty. Typically, a percentage of the rent or a flat fee per day after a grace period is acceptable, but check local Kauai County specifics or consult an attorney to ensure compliance.
A 5.2/10 places Wainiha in the 47th percentile of Hawaii cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1 to 10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has risen sharply since 1976, a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.
Cities with similar eviction risk to Wainiha (5.2/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
