Research
Plain-language guides on Hawaii lava zones, FEMA flood maps, wildfire risk data, and how to navigate the homeowners insurance market on the islands.
State Farm, Farmers, and a growing list of regional carriers have stopped writing new homeowners policies in Hawaii. Here is why it is happening, which counties are most exposed, and how knowing your property's exact risk profile can change the conversation with your next broker.
Read article →If every private carrier has declined your property, the Hawaii Property Insurance Association must accept you. Learn what HPIA covers, what it excludes, the coverage limits, how to qualify, and how to use it alongside flood and wind policies.
Read article →The USGS divides Hawaii into nine lava hazard zones based on historical eruption data and proximity to rift zones. If you own property on the Big Island — or are considering buying there — understanding which zone you are in is one of the most consequential data points you will encounter.
Read article →After the 2023 Lahaina fire, wildfire is the fastest-moving factor in Hawaii homeowners insurance underwriting. Learn how the HWMO wildfire score is calculated, what Moderate and High mean for your carrier options, and which islands face the most exposure.
Read article →FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program designates every parcel in Hawaii into a flood zone. The designation on your policy jacket — AE, VE, or X — determines whether flood insurance is required, how much it costs, and how lenders will treat your loan.
Read article →Distance from the shoreline is one of the most consequential inputs in Hawaii property insurance pricing, and most buyers never learn their number until a carrier declines. Learn the thresholds underwriters use and what they mean for coverage and cost.
Read article →Hawaii has not taken a direct hurricane hit since Iniki in 1992, but that event permanently changed how carriers price wind risk. Learn how ASCE 7-16 wind speed zones, the pre-1994 strap divide, and percentage-of-value hurricane deductibles affect your coverage.
Read article →Hawaii's tsunami evacuation zone signs mark life-safety boundaries, not coverage boundaries — but they do affect underwriting. Learn how Zone 1 and 2 status interacts with flood insurance, what NFIP actually covers, and why coastal Hawaii properties often need multiple policies.
Read article →A roof older than 15 to 20 years can narrow your carrier options and trigger ACV-only settlements in Hawaii. Learn how carriers verify roof age using permit records, what the age thresholds mean, and why a documented roof replacement is an underwriting asset.
Read article →Opening a non-renewal letter from your homeowners insurer is one of the most stressful things a Hawaii property owner can face. But the 45-day window your carrier is required to give you is enough time to act — if you know the right sequence.
Read article →Hawaii homeowners pay two to three times the national average for property insurance — but the range across islands and hazard zones is enormous. A Zone 4 Kailua-Kona home and a Waikiki condo face completely different markets. Here is what drives the number.
Read article →On the Big Island, insurance is not a formality you handle after closing — it is a contingency item that can kill a deal or expose you to uninsured loss. A five-step pre-close checklist for buyers navigating lava zones, surplus lines timelines, and roof permit history.
Read article →Denial and non-renewal are different things with different remedies. Six specific triggers — lava zone, coastal flood zone, wildfire score, roof age, prior claims, and property age — account for the majority of Hawaii denials. Here is the path through each one.
Read article →The August 2023 Lahaina fire destroyed more than 2,200 structures and exposed how thin Hawaii's wildfire insurance coverage actually was. What changed in underwriting afterward, which Maui neighborhoods are now hardest to insure, and what buyers in Kula and Haiku need to verify.
Read article →Hawaii condo owners routinely discover that their HOA master policy leaves significant gaps — especially for flood, contents, and loss assessment. Understanding the difference between bare-walls and all-in coverage can prevent a six-figure gap at claim time.
Read article →If your parcel falls within Hawaii's Special Management Area, any development — including rebuilding after a loss — requires a county permit. The SMA is defined under HAR Chapter 13-222 and administered differently on each island. Here is how to find out if you are inside it and what it means for insurance and financing.
Read article →Hawaii lenders have specific insurance requirements that go beyond what any carrier disclosure will spell out. Mandatory flood purchase in SFHAs, wind coverage minimums, replacement cost versus ACV — and what happens when you let a policy lapse and the bank force-places coverage at your expense.
Read article →Oahu has more AE and VE designated land than most residents realize. Kaneohe, Kailua, Ewa Beach, Haleiwa, and parts of Waimanalo all have significant SFHA coverage. What the designations mean, what flood insurance costs in each area, and when it is optional versus required.
Read article →Surplus lines carriers can write properties the standard market declines — lava zones 1 and 2, VE coastal properties, high wildfire scores. But they operate without Hawaii's state guaranty fund and without rate oversight. What you gain, what you give up, and how to vet a surplus lines broker.
Read article →Kauai has the wettest recorded rainfall on Earth, a Hurricane Iniki scar that never fully healed in the insurance market, and North Shore flood plains that flood on a near-annual basis. What the risk profile looks like by area, what standard versus surplus coverage costs, and what pre-purchase verification looks like.
Read article →Know your property
Lava zone, FEMA flood zone, wildfire score, tsunami zone, coastline distance, roof age — every number cited to a public source. Delivered within 60 minutes for $19.
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