In Hawaiʻi, a married couple left without hurricane insurance now fears the growing threat of natural disasters.
What's happening?
Michael and Marilee Lyons of Haleiwa built their redwood, single-wall home in the 1970s, securing the proper permits and opting for what was then a cost-effective design. Decades later, they were blindsided by a letter from their insurer, notifying them that their home would no longer be covered in the event of a severe storm such as a hurricane.
"To receive a letter like this is really a slap in the face," Marilee told Hawaiʻi News Now. "They took our money for all these years, and now they're saying, 'I'm sorry we're not going to insure you.'"
The Lyons noted they are not alone—other single-wall homeowners they know have also been dropped by their insurers.
Why are Hawaiʻi residents being dropped by their insurance?
With natural disasters striking Hawaiʻi more often, insurers are tightening policies in an effort to curb costs and shield themselves from mounting exposure.
"Insurers themselves are reassessing their risk ever since the Lahaina wildfires," said Hawaiʻi’s acting insurance commissioner, Jerry Bump. The 2023 disaster, initially estimated to have caused $5.5 billion in damage, was later found to exceed $12 billion. Investigators determined the fires began when a downed power line sparked dry, poorly maintained vegetation.
Hurricanes have historically been rare in Hawaiʻi. But experts warn that shifting weather patterns and rising global temperatures could heighten the risk of powerful storms striking the islands—or passing close enough to cause serious damage.
The 2024 Central Pacific hurricane season brought only two named storms, following a 2023 season that saw four—one of which intensified into a powerful Category 4.
Global warming is intensifying storms in Hawaiʻi, mirroring a worldwide trend. In the last 100 years, scientists have documented a rise in air temperatures of up to one degree Fahrenheit. These warmer conditions provide fertile ground for hurricanes, which are growing stronger as human-induced climate pollution continues to push temperatures higher.
What's being done about insurance for Hawaiʻi residents?
The state of Hawaiʻi is stepping in to support homeowners struggling to insure their properties. In early July, Governor Josh Green signed legislation aimed at stabilizing the state’s property insurance market.
Meanwhile, the state has launched the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund to aid those affected by hurricanes, and the Hawaiʻi Property Insurance Association to cover fire and other property damage. Yet, while these programs exist, they are not always easily accessible to homeowners.
"It's not cheap. It's usually expensive. It usually reflects the risk, though, that is associated with that home, how it's built, where it's at," Bump said in the Hawaiʻi News Now report.
"You know being kupuna, older people, we're stuck in this thing where we can stay, we can't move, we can't borrow, we can't get anything," said Michael Lyons.
The report also highlighted that homeowners who receive an insurance cancellation notice can turn to the state’s online guide to homeowners’ insurance for assistance.
