Kona, HI Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Kona on the Big Island's west coast faces flash flooding from intense tropical rainfall on the volcanic slopes. Lava rock terrain creates rapid runoff, and coastal areas are vulnerable to storm surge and tsunami.
Hawaii County has recorded 800 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $23.2M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 9
NFIP Policies
4,898
Hawaii County
Avg. Premium
$1,063/yr
Hawaii County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Hawaii County
Properties in Hawaii County have filed 800 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $23.2M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $29K.
Highest-Claim Years
2011
104 claims - $10.5M
1980
79 claims - $748K
2000
72 claims - $1.8M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Hawaii County
Only roughly 1 in 16 households in Hawaii County carries NFIP flood insurance (6% of estimated households). This county has elevated flood risk with below-average insurance coverage, meaning many flood losses may go uninsured.
Penetration Rate
6%
roughly 1 in 16 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 6
800 claims over 45+ years across 4,898 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$28,945
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Hawaii County has averaged 1 claim for every 6 active policies (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Kona.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Hawaii County
Hawaii County has 48 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 13 severe repetitive loss properties. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
48
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
13
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
0
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 45 of 48 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Kona
Kona has no CRS rating of its own, but it sits in Hawaii County, which participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 7
SFHA Premium Discount
15% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Hawaii County's Class 7 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 15% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Hawaii County
Hawaii County has been included in 7 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 1 earlier declaration since 1979.
These declarations affected communities across Hawaii County, including Kona.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Hawaii County
NOAA has recorded 226 flood events in Hawaii County since 1996, causing $95.4M in damage and 5 deaths.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Hawaii County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 19 properties in Hawaii County, investing $4.2M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Hawaii County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $185.3M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively LowEst. annual loss: $125K
Hurricane Risk
Relatively LowEst. annual loss: $447K
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Kona
Kona faces a combination of coastal and inland flood risks. Storm surge from hurricanes and tropical storms pushes seawater inland, while heavy rainfall simultaneously overwhelms rivers, bayous, and drainage infrastructure. This dual threat means flooding can come from multiple directions at once. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Kona are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $185.3M. Properties in Kona's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Combined coastal and inland flood exposure in Kona means properties may face higher premiums than areas with only one flood source. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 accounts for multiple flood sources, including coastal surge distance, river proximity, and rainfall-driven flooding. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
Flood maps in areas with combined coastal and inland risk are among the most complex in the FEMA system. Major storms often trigger FEMA restudies that can significantly shift zone boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) after hurricanes may expand SFHA coverage as new storm data is incorporated. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Kona address.
Kona, HI Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Kona, HI?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Kona are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Kona?
If your Kona property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) 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 federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Kona?
Enter your Kona address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Kona offer flood insurance discounts?
Kona itself has no CRS rating, but it sits in Hawaii County, which participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 7 rating. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area qualify for up to a 15% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Has Kona experienced major flooding events?
Hawaii County, where Kona is located, has been part of 7 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in 2026. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Kona?
Hawaii County has recorded 800 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $23.2M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2011, with 104 claims and $10.5M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Kona.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Kona?
Hawaii County had 4,898 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $1,063. The most policies are in Zone X (1,744 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Kona properties have flooded repeatedly?
Hawaii County has 48 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 13 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Can my Kona property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Kona?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Kona's Zone AE and Zone VE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Kona, HI Address
Enter a Kona, HI address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.