June 2020
- Hawaii’s costliest hurricane, based on insured property losses, was Hurricane Iniki in September 1992. Iniki caused $1.6 billion in damage when it occurred, or $2.9 billion in 2019 dollars.
- Hawaii had 62,375 flood insurance policies in force in 2018, according to the National Flood Insurance Program. Standard homeowners policies typically do not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is covered by the National Flood Insurance Program and a growing number of private insurers.
- Flood insurance in force in Hawaii in the National Flood Insurance Program totaled $14.5 billion in 2018.
- Significant storms hitting Hawaii include: the Kohala Cyclone in 1871, Hurricane Nina in 1957, Hurricane Dot in 1959, Hurricane Iwa in 1982 and Hurricane Iniki in 1992.
- In Hawaii, most homeowner insurance policies provide coverage for almost all standard perils (e.g., fire, explosion) and liability but exclude hurricanes. The trigger for what constitutes a hurricane varies from insurer to insurer, and may depend on variables such as where, and whether, the hurricane makes landfall as well as declarations made by the National Weather Service. A hurricane is generally defined as a tropical storm which has achieved sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour.
