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Hawaii Property Insurance Association (HPIA)

Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 14, 2026

What HPIA is

The Hawaii Property Insurance Association is a nonprofit, unincorporated association created by Hawaii law (HRS chapter 431, article 21). Every property and casualty insurer licensed in Hawaii must be a member as a condition of doing business in the state, and members share HPIA's writings, expenses, profits and losses in proportion to their Hawaii premiums. HPIA says it "is not a state agency nor a public entity" and receives no taxpayer funding.

The 1991 Legislature created HPIA to provide basic property insurance for people who couldn't buy homeowners coverage because of the ongoing eruption in lava zones 1 and 2 on Hawaii Island. Its first policy was issued in March 1992. After Hurricane Iniki, HPIA expanded to the rest of the state.

A 12-member board runs it: eight insurers elected by the members and four people appointed by the Insurance Commissioner (three for the public and one for insurance agents). A plan administrator issues and services policies and handles claims. HPIA has no employees, and it works under a plan of operation approved by the Insurance Commissioner.

We are not HPIA and are not affiliated with it. This page explains HPIA's published rules; HPIA and your agent make the decisions. [3][9][14][15][16]

Who is eligible

- Two declinations. The property "must have been declined coverage for basic property insurance by at least two licensed insurers who write residential property insurance." The application lists the two companies. - Where. HPIA says coverage is available to eligible owners "in all locations in the State of Hawaii, or as designated by the Insurance Commissioner." The Insurance Division's 2025 annual report says HPIA is "essentially the insurer of last resort" in lava zones 1 and 2. - What kind of home. A one- or two-family dwelling, or an individual condominium or apartment unit, used for private residential purposes only. Abandoned, vacant or unoccupied homes, and homes with a business on the premises, are not eligible. - Condition. HPIA looks at construction, heating, wiring, past fires, unrepaired damage and general deterioration. The home must be reachable by fire equipment, and any structure or addition built without the proper building permit is ineligible. Homes more than 30 years old need a supplemental questionnaire on electrical, plumbing and roof. - Loss history. Homes with three unrelated losses within three years, or two related losses within three years (not counting catastrophe losses), are ineligible. - Tsunami zones. Homes in tsunami inundation areas must carry flood insurance if on the third floor or below in a multi-story building, or if otherwise exposed as HPIA determines. Apart from that rule, HPIA's guidelines say neighborhood location or "any environmental hazard beyond the control of the property owner" is not grounds for declining you. [1][5][17][18][19][20]

What it covers and what it doesn't

HPIA offers four policies: Homeowners, Dwelling, Renters and Unit-owners (condo). It says its policies "generally provide less coverage than most voluntary market policies while charging higher rates/premiums for basic coverage."

The $650,000 maximum comes from an HPIA rule filing with the Hawaii Insurance Division (SERFF filing HPIA-134771380). It raises the most HPIA will write on the dwelling under HO-2 and DP-2 from $450,000 to $650,000 everywhere outside lava zones 1 and 2, for new policies starting March 1, 2026 and renewals starting April 1, 2026. In lava zones 1 and 2 the maximum stays $450,000. HPIA's website and its September 2023 quick reference guides still show the older $50,000 to $450,000 range (checked Oct. 14, 2026); the other limits in the table come from those guides. Ask your agent to confirm HPIA's current condo-unit (HO-6) limits before you apply.

Other points:

- Deductibles: $500, $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000. - Not covered: hurricane, flood and earthquake. A hurricane exclusion endorsement is mandatory on both programs, and you sign an acknowledgment that the policy "EXCLUDES hurricane and flood and earthquake coverage." State law also says nothing in HPIA's coverage section authorizes it "to provide hurricane coverage." - Lava: HPIA was created for lava zones 1 and 2, and its 2020 rate notice describes it paying "tens of millions in claims" after the 2018 lava flow. - Valuing your home is on you. HPIA "does not estimate the fair market value of your property, the cost to rebuild" or determine whether the coverage you ask for is appropriate; your agent can help. HPIA's replacement cost estimator form is part of the application.

For hurricane coverage you need a separate source; see Homeowners Insurance in Hawaii. For flood, see our sister site FloodHawk. [2][3][9][11][12][13][21][22][23][24]

How to apply

1. Find an agent. "All applications for coverage must be submitted to the HPIA by a licensed Property and Casualty agent," and every licensed Hawaii property and casualty agent can submit one. HPIA posts lists of agencies by island that have sent it business, but says the lists are not complete. HPIA does not give quotes over the phone. 2. Gather the submission. A complete submission includes a signed application (with your TMK, tax map key), HPIA's replacement cost estimator (for homeowners and dwelling forms), a supplemental checklist, two current color photos (front and rear), a photo of any water catchment tank, the supplemental questionnaire if the home is over 30 years old, the signed hurricane/flood/earthquake exclusion acknowledgment, a premium quote, the two declinations, and a county tax record or MLS listing. 3. Pay the deposit. A $250 deposit (or full payment) is required. Coverage starts on the later of the day HPIA receives the complete submission or the day it receives the deposit check. HPIA does not issue binders; it says the policy is issued within 10 business days. 4. Pay the balance. For new policies, the rest of the premium is due in full within 20 days.

Under state law, HPIA may inspect the property within ten days of receiving an application, and you can ask for a copy of the inspection report.

Address check: HPIA's FAQ and its current forms give the mailing address as 700 Bishop Street, Suite 1100, Honolulu, HI 96813, but its "Effective Date of Coverage" page still says to mail the deposit check to 745 Fort Street Mall, Suite 1100. Confirm with your agent or the Plan Administrator before mailing. [3][4][7][9][20][25][26]

Paying, claims and policy changes

- Payments: HPIA "does not accept credit card payments or online payments." Make checks out to HPIA or Hawaii Property Insurance Association and mail them to 700 Bishop Street, Suite 1100, Honolulu, HI 96813. To check whether a payment arrived, call (808) 585-3524 or email hpia@marsh.com with your policy number. - No payment plans. Renewal premiums are due in full by the renewal date. HPIA says that if a renewal premium isn't received by the due date, the policy lapses at its expiration date. Policyholders with an annual premium of $4,000 or more can ask their agent about premium financing through Imperial PFS. - Claims: "immediately notify your licensed insurance agent"; your agent files the claim with HPIA. If you can't reach your agent, call (808) 585-3524. - Policy changes and cancellations: HPIA's contact form has a category for new business submissions, policy changes, cancellation requests and payment status requests, but HPIA says it "does not work directly with consumers," so start with your agent. - Mortgage lenders: state law says financial institutions "shall consider a policy issued by the association to be the same as a similar policy issued by an insurer authorized to transact insurance" in Hawaii. HPIA is not rated by A.M. Best because it is not an insurance company. [4][8][9][16][23][27]

If HPIA turns you down: appeals

Any applicant affected by an HPIA decision can appeal to HPIA's board of directors within 30 days after the decision. The appeal must say how you were harmed and the grounds for relief. The board must hold a hearing within 30 days of receiving it unless both sides agree to postpone. The board's final decision can be reviewed by the circuit court of the first judicial circuit (HRS 431:21-113). [28]

Rates and recent changes

HPIA files its rates with the Insurance Commissioner like an insurance company. It says rates "must be adequate to cover operating expenses, including reinsurance costs, and projected losses and to avoid subsidy by the voluntary market," and "can not include a profit component." Its rate filings are public through SERFF Filing Access on the Insurance Division's website.

- 2020 lava-zone increase: after the 2018 lava flow, HPIA raised rates for homes in lava zones 1 and 2 only. It said it "does not foresee a rate reduction in the future." - Rate review: the Insurance Division's 2025 annual report says its push for insurers to take a long-term view on rates produced estimated savings of $9.7 million in fiscal year 2024-2025, "with about one third of the savings going to policyholders of HPIA." - Act 296 (effective July 1, 2025): lets HPIA insure registered condominium associations (not for hurricane), with an inspection and a review of the association's governing documents first, and caps a high-rise condo's time in HPIA at 60 months. It also lets HPIA add coverage statewide for single-family homes, townhouses or other property when HPIA determines, and the commissioner approves, that the market has failed for that kind of property. Under the HPIA law as amended by Act 296, HPIA can assess member insurers (up to 2% of a member's net direct written premiums a year, collected over up to 36 months), and insurers recoup those assessments through a surcharge of up to 2% on policies, shown separately on your bill. As of Oct. 13, 2026, HPIA's website did not announce a condominium master-policy program. - Lava-zone moratorium law: if the commissioner finds residential property insurance unavailable because of a moratorium on new policies in a lava zone during a Hawaii County lava-flow emergency, state law requires HPIA to remove its moratorium and offer new policies. HPIA may set a waiting period of up to six months before coverage starts for homes that don't have current insurance (HRS 431:21-119).

HPIA does not publish policy counts on its website. [3][5][23][29][30][31][32][33]

Getting back to a regular insurer

HPIA says "a diligent effort should be made to obtain coverage in the voluntary market," and recommends that policyholders "shop for a different insurer at least annually" to find coverage more comprehensive than HPIA's. Its FAQ adds that "more comprehensive coverage options at reduced premium costs may be available in the voluntary insurance market." Ask your agent to re-shop your home each year before renewal. [3][9]

Help

- HPIA Plan Administrator: (808) 585-3524, fax (808) 585-3510, hpia@marsh.com. For a new policy, HPIA asks you to go through a licensed agent. - Complaints about an insurer or agent: Hawaii Insurance Division, 1-844-808-DCCA (3222), or the Filing a Complaint page. - Notice rules if you were dropped, hurricane coverage and condo programs: Homeowners Insurance in Hawaii. [4][34]

Questions people ask