What drives the risk for expensive homes in Hawaii
- Catastrophe exposureHawaii's main exposures for expensive homes are hurricanes, wildfire (as in the August 2023 Maui fires), tsunami and coastal flooding, earthquakes, and lava flows on Hawaii Island. The state hazard mitigation plan covers all of these, along with sea level rise. Source
- Wind and hurricane deductiblesIn Hawaii, hurricane damage may sit outside the standard homeowners form, so it is bought as an endorsement or separate hurricane policy. The hurricane deductible is usually a percentage of the dwelling limit. The Insurance Division says the trigger varies by company, but it generally starts when the National Weather Service issues a hurricane watch or warning and runs for a set period after the storm. Source
- FloodFlood, including tsunami and storm-surge flooding, is excluded from homeowners policies, and NFIP covers at most $250,000 on the building and $100,000 on contents. Oceanfront and low-lying homes worth more than that usually need private excess flood coverage on top. Source
Hawaii by the numbers
| Measure | Hawaii | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 21 | #35 (tied) of 51 | Most often for severe storm (8), flood (5), earthquake (2). Maui County has been in 12 of them. |
| National Flood Insurance Program claims, 2005–2025 | 2,677 | #33 of 51 | $100.4 million paid; 26% of claims with a known flood zone were outside FEMA’s high-risk zones. |
| Hail reports, 2016–2025 | 2 | #51 of 51 | 0 of them 2 inches or larger. Largest stone 1.25 inches, Honolulu County, March 2023. |
| Tornadoes, 2016–2025 | 0 | — | 0 rated EF2 or stronger; 41 recorded since 1950. |
| Earthquakes of magnitude 4.0+, 2000–2025 | 213 | #4 of 51 | Largest: magnitude 6.9, 18 km SSW of Leilani Estates, Hawaii, May 4, 2018. |
From the public FEMA, NOAA, Storm Prediction Center, USGS and FMCSA records behind each linked report; ranks count all 50 states and Washington, DC unless noted.
When the standard market says no, and what earns credits
- Insurer of last resort and wind poolsThe Legislature created the Hawaii Property Insurance Association (HPIA) in 1991 for owners who can't get private coverage because of volcanic risk on Hawaii Island. Its dwelling, homeowners, renters and condo-unit policies carry limits of about $50,000 to $450,000. A 2025 law (SB1044) also lets HPIA cover condominium buildings statewide (hurricane excluded), and other property types if a market failure is found. The same law lets the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund offer hurricane coverage to high-rise condos. Source
Worth knowing in Hawaii
USGS splits Hawaii Island into nine lava-flow hazard zones. Zones 1 and 2 cover the summits, rift zones and downslope areas of Kilauea and Mauna Loa, and private coverage there is scarce, so many owners rely on HPIA. Buyers of expensive homes anywhere on Hawaii Island should check which zone the property is in, because the zone affects whether private coverage is available. Source
Where high-value homes are in Hawaii
Kahala and Diamond Head (Honolulu) · Lanikai and Kailua (Oahu) · Wailea and Kapalua (Maui) · Kohala Coast (Hawaii Island) · Princeville and Poipu (Kauai)
Common questions
Do Hawaii homeowners policies have a separate wind or hurricane deductible?
In Hawaii, hurricane damage may sit outside the standard homeowners form, so it is bought as an endorsement or separate hurricane policy. The hurricane deductible is usually a percentage of the dwelling limit. The Insurance Division says the trigger varies by company, but it generally starts when the National Weather Service issues a hurricane watch or warning and runs for a set period after the storm.
Where can an expensive home in Hawaii get coverage if insurers decline it?
The Legislature created the Hawaii Property Insurance Association (HPIA) in 1991 for owners who can't get private coverage because of volcanic risk on Hawaii Island. Its dwelling, homeowners, renters and condo-unit policies carry limits of about $50,000 to $450,000. A 2025 law (SB1044) also lets HPIA cover condominium buildings statewide (hurricane excluded), and other property types if a market failure is found. The same law lets the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund offer hurricane coverage to high-rise condos.
Is flood insurance enough for a high-value home in Hawaii?
Flood, including tsunami and storm-surge flooding, is excluded from homeowners policies, and NFIP covers at most $250,000 on the building and $100,000 on contents. Oceanfront and low-lying homes worth more than that usually need private excess flood coverage on top.
Sources
- Hawaii: Catastrophe exposure
- Hawaii: Wind and hurricane deductibles
- Hawaii: Insurer of last resort and wind pools
- Hawaii: Flood
- Hawaii: Also worth knowing
General information as of October 2026, not legal advice; confirm current rules with the agency.