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 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.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace has grown into one of the most active platforms for Hawaii long-term rentals, particularly for landlord-direct listings on Oahu. Compared with Craigslist, it has the advantage of verified poster profiles — each listing appears alongside the landlord’s Facebook account — which adds a layer of accountability that anonymous classifieds lack.
To find long-term rentals, open Facebook Marketplace, select “Property Rentals” under the housing category, and set your location to the island or city you’re targeting. Filter by “For Rent” and choose “Long-term” under lease type. Listings refresh continuously throughout the day. It’s also worth searching for island-specific Facebook Groups — “Oahu Rentals,” “Maui Rentals,” or “Hawaii Rentals” — where landlords and property managers post directly, sometimes before listing anywhere else.
Zillow
Zillow is the strongest option for map-based searching — you can draw a custom boundary around a specific neighborhood and see only rentals inside it, which is useful when island geography and commute times matter. Click “For Rent” from the main navigation, enter your target island or city, and use “More Filters” to narrow by home type, bedrooms, and price range. The “Home Type” filter is particularly useful for distinguishing houses from condos and apartments — a distinction many Craigslist listings skip. Set up email alerts to be notified when a new matching rental goes live; Hawaii’s market moves fast and same-day responses regularly make the difference between getting a unit and missing it.
Honolulu Board of Realtors: Rental Properties Search
The Honolulu Board of Realtors runs an MLS-backed rental search at propertysearch.hicentral.com. Listings are submitted by licensed agents and property managers, so completeness tends to be higher than on open classifieds — addresses, unit photos, and lease terms are typically verified. Listing density skews heavily toward Oahu; if you’re searching on another island, treat this as a supplement rather than a primary source.
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 monthly stays are worth considering for a soft landing: they give you time to find a permanent long-term rental once you’re on the ground and familiar with the neighborhoods. Monthly and quarterly rentals bridge the gap between your arrival date and signing a standard 12-month lease.
One important caveat for 2026: Hawaii has significantly tightened short-term rental regulations across Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. Many former vacation-rental units have converted to long-term leases as a result, reducing the supply of monthly Airbnb stays on those islands. Book well in advance and have a backup plan — availability is noticeably thinner than it was a few years ago.
