So you’ve figured out the maximum rent you can afford in Hawaii, and you’ve identified which towns or neighborhoods you’re most interested in moving to. At last, you’re ready to tackle those listings for Hawaii long term rentals to find your new home in Hawaii.
How to find a long term rental in Hawaii?
Even if you’re not quite ready to move just yet, start a habit of checking listings at least once a week.
Browsing listings regularly will give you a sense of how much rentals in Hawaii cost, depending on their location, size, condition, and amenities. Then when you are ready to move, you’ll be able to spot a good deal when you see one!
But if the only thing holding you back from moving is finding a home, check listings at least once or twice a day — the best deals and most desirable properties get snapped up fast in Hawaii’s competitive rental market. Starting your search two to three months before your intended move date gives you enough exposure to recognise fair pricing and act quickly when the right listing appears.
Best sites to find Hawaii long term rentals
Below are the five best sites for finding long-term rentals in Hawaii, selected for listing volume, island coverage, and how well they serve renters looking to stay for months or years rather than a week.
Craigslist Hawaii
Craigslist consistently has the highest listing volume of any platform for Hawaii long-term rentals. Individual landlords, agents, brokers, and property management companies all post in the “Housing” section, making it the single broadest view of what’s available across the islands. If you use just one site on this list, use this one.
At the very top of the homepage (next to the word “Hawaii”) you can select which island you want to focus your search on. To geographically narrow your search further, enter the name of a city, town, district, neighborhood, street, building, or complex in the “Search For” box.
When conducting your search, avoid checking the “Cats” or “Dogs” checkbox for a couple of reasons:
- Some ads will specify “no pets” even though the ad is set as “OK” for cats or dogs (due to an error made by the person who submitted the ad).
- Some people who submit ads don’t bother to set their ad as “OK” for cats or dogs, even though they might be open to the idea.
The practical workaround is to read the full text of each listing. If it explicitly says no pets, skip it. If it’s silent on the issue, enquire — landlords who didn’t specify are often open to pets with the right tenant and a larger deposit. This approach surfaces significantly more pet-friendly options than the checkbox search alone.
Zillow
If you prefer map-based listings, Zillow is worth bookmarking. Yes, Zillow is a real estate site, but it lists homes for rent as well as for sale. Here’s how to see just the rental listings:
- On the homepage, enter a location in the box under “Find Homes.”
- Once you’re on the webpage for your location, locate the white box on the left side of the map.
- In that white box, uncheck all the checkboxes except “For Rent.”
- Voila — your results are instantly updated on the map to show only rental listings.
- In that same white box, click “More Filters” to narrow your search further. The “Home Type” filters are particularly useful for distinguishing houses, condos, and apartments — a feature Craigslist doesn’t offer.
- Another great feature, especially if you’re ready to move right away: click “Save Search” or “Email me new results” to get alerts whenever a matching listing is added to Zillow’s database.
Honolulu Board of Realtors: Rental Properties Search
This site includes rentals for all islands, though listing density skews toward Oahu — expect fewer options on neighbour islands. Still, it’s worth checking even if you’re planning to move to another island. Just be aware that this site also lists vacation rentals, so be sure to select “Long Term” under “Rental Type” when conducting your search.
Hawaiian Humane Society: Pets In Housing
This is a niche resource but a valuable one for pet owners: listings here come directly from landlords who have proactively confirmed they accept pets. The total number of listings is smaller than the mainstream platforms, but every one is pet-confirmed — which saves considerable time for renters who need that assurance upfront.
Pet-friendly housing can be hard to find in Hawaii, especially in densely populated Honolulu. Check this site regularly alongside your Craigslist searches for the broadest view of what’s available to pet owners.
Airbnb
Airbnb is worth considering for a soft landing — monthly stays give you time to find a permanent long-term rental once you’re on the ground. Having monthly and quarterly rentals available, Airbnb offers a flexible option that can bridge the gap between arrival and signing a standard 12-month lease.