Hawaii Flood Zones
Hawaii faces diverse flood hazards including tropical cyclone storm surge, intense orographic rainfall, flash flooding in steep volcanic terrain, and tsunami risk. The islands' mountainous topography creates extreme rainfall gradients and rapid runoff conditions.
3 of 5 Hawaii counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.
FEMA Region
Region 9
Also covers Arizona, California, Nevada, +5 more
NFIP Policies
52,000
Hawaii Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 5 Hawaii counties.
Inland Flood Risk
3 of 5 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
0 of 5 coastal counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
0 of 5 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Hawaii has received 18 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
3
2010s
4
2000s
1
1990s
2
1980s
3
1970s
2
1960s
2
1950s
1
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 18 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Hawaii properties have filed 5,827 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $143.4M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $25K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
456
2010s
1,222
2000s
926
1990s
1,835
1980s
1,277
1970s
111
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
1,576
Zone AE
1,509
Zone A
909
Zone VE
655
Zone V
342
Zone AH
204
Zone AO
142
Zone D
138
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Look Up Any Hawaii Address
Enter a HI address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupHawaii Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Hawaii.
Hawaii Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Hawaii property is in a flood zone?
Enter your HI address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in Hawaii?
If your Hawaii property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Hawaii's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Hawaii?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Hawaii are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone A, Zone D, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my Hawaii property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Hawaii property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. Note that for coastal properties in VE zones, LOMAs are less common because wave action creates risks beyond still-water elevation. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Hawaii.