Hawaii homeowners insurance
A standard Hawaii homeowners policy does not cover hurricane. That is bought as a separate policy with its own percentage deductible, and it is the single most important thing to get right here.
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Three reasons a Hawaii home policy is not a mainland policy
- 1
Hurricane coverage is a separate purchase, with a percentage deductible
On the mainland, wind is usually part of the homeowners policy. In Hawaii, hurricane is generally written as its own policy or endorsement, and its deductible is a percentage of the dwelling limit rather than a flat dollar figure. A percentage deductible on a high dwelling limit is a large number. Ask what the percentage is, ask what it works out to in dollars, and ask what triggers it — because the trigger is usually tied to a declared hurricane rather than to wind speed at your house.
- 2
Lava zones decide availability on the Big Island
Hawaii County property is classified by lava flow hazard zone, and the standard market treats Zones 1 and 2 very differently from Zone 9. The Hawaii Property Insurance Association exists as a market of last resort for property that cannot be placed otherwise. If you are buying in Puna or Kaʻu, the lava zone is a question to settle before the offer, not after.
- 3
Rebuilding here means shipping the house in
Lumber, roofing, fixtures and appliances arrive by sea, and labor is limited to the islands. A dwelling limit derived from a national per-square-foot figure does not describe a Hawaii rebuild. Ask what rebuild cost the quote assumes and whether extended replacement cost can sit above it, because the gap between a mainland estimate and an island rebuild is wide.
Flood, and why the map is only part of the answer
Flood is excluded from every standard homeowners policy and is bought separately through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood market. In Hawaii the relevant exposures are coastal inundation, stream and gulch flooding after heavy rain, and tsunami — which behaves as flood for policy purposes. Low-lying parts of Honolulu, Kailua and Hilo all have history here, and a good deal of flood damage happens outside mapped high-risk zones.
Salt, termites and what maintenance means in the tropics
Salt corrosion and Formosan termites are the two conditions that quietly reduce a Hawaii house to a different risk than the one on paper. Neither is an insured peril — termite damage is specifically excluded on essentially every policy. Carriers ask about the roof age, single-wall versus double-wall construction, and whether there has been termite treatment, because those answers predict claims. Have them ready.
Solar, catchment and the things attached to the house
Rooftop photovoltaic and solar water heating are everywhere here and are worth confirming as covered under the dwelling or as scheduled property. On properties with water catchment, the tank and the system are usually other structures rather than dwelling. A cesspool or septic question comes up too. None of these are exotic in Hawaii, and all of them get missed on a quote taken from a mainland script.
What the underwriter will ask about your house
- Island, and for Hawaii County the lava flow hazard zone
- Year built, square footage, and the year the roof was last replaced
- Single-wall or double-wall construction
- Whether the house is on post-and-pier or slab, and whether it has hurricane clips or straps
- Termite treatment history, and any known damage
- Rooftop photovoltaic or solar water heating, and what it cost
- Water source — municipal or catchment — and the wastewater system
- Whether hurricane coverage is in place, with what percentage deductible
Frequently asked questions
Does Hawaii homeowners insurance cover hurricane?
Generally not on its own. Hurricane is usually a separate policy or endorsement here, with a deductible expressed as a percentage of the dwelling limit. It is the first thing to confirm rather than the last.
What does a percentage hurricane deductible actually cost me?
It is calculated against the dwelling limit, not the loss, so on a high limit it is a substantial figure. Ask for the dollar amount in writing so there is no surprise after a storm.
Can I insure a house in lava Zone 1 or 2?
The standard market is limited there. The Hawaii Property Insurance Association exists as a market of last resort for properties that cannot be placed otherwise. Settle the zone question before closing.
Is termite damage covered?
No. Termite damage is excluded on essentially every policy. Treatment history matters to underwriting precisely because the damage itself is never an insured loss.
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