Enter any address in Hawaii County, Hawaii to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding events are the most common type of flood recorded in Hawaii County over the past 30 years, with 132 occurrences. Flood events and tropical storms also contribute to the county's flood risk. For example, in August 2024, Hurricane Hone passed south of the Big Island, bringing outer rain bands that caused flooding and widespread tropical storm-force winds, leading to power outages and damaged utility poles.
National Flood Insurance Program data shows that properties in Zone V have experienced a high number of claims with an average payout of $30,314 and an average water depth of 5.3 feet. Zone A also has a significant number of claims, with a higher average payout of $35,124, though the average water depth was 2.5 feet. Residents in coastal areas, particularly those in Zone V, and those in Zone A, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
34 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Hawaii County, Hawaii has recorded 225 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 132 flash floods and 88 river or area floods. The county has received 29 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Kohala Ranch Fire | Fire | Aug 8, 2023 |
| Mauna Kea Beach Fire | Fire | Aug 8, 2023 |
| Wildfires And High Winds | Fire | Aug 8, 2023 |
| Mana Road Fire | Fire | Aug 1, 2021 |
| Hurricane Douglas | Hurricane | Jul 23, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Tropical Storm Olivia | Hurricane | Sep 9, 2018 |
| Hurricane Lane | Hurricane | Aug 22, 2018 |
| Kilauea Volcanic Eruption And Earthquakes | Volcanic Eruption | May 3, 2018 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm | Aug 25, 2024 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 25, 2024 | 3.00M |
| Flood | Aug 25, 2024 | 5.00M |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 25, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 24, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 18, 2024 | 1.00M |
| Flash Flood | May 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 10, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 5, 2024 | 0.00K |
Tropical Storm — Aug 25, 2024
Hurricane Hone, which formed in the Central Pacific, tracked towards the Hawaiian islands and passed by just south of the Big Island. Hurricane Hone's outer rain bands brought flooding to portions of the Big Island and the close proximity of the center of the storm brought widespread tropical storm force winds with pockets of power outages over the Big Island and Maui. Thousands of customers re...
Flash Flood — Aug 25, 2024
Hurricane Hone, which formed in the Central Pacific, tracked towards the Hawaiian islands and passed by just south of the Big Island. Hurricane Hone's outer rain bands brought flooding to portions of the Big Island and the close proximity of the center of the storm brought widespread tropical storm force winds with pockets of power outages over the Big Island and Maui. Thousands of customers re...
Flood — Aug 25, 2024
Hurricane Hone, which formed in the Central Pacific, tracked towards the Hawaiian islands and passed by just south of the Big Island. Hurricane Hone's outer rain bands brought flooding to portions of the Big Island and the close proximity of the center of the storm brought widespread tropical storm force winds with pockets of power outages over the Big Island and Maui. Thousands of customers re...
Tropical Storm — Aug 24, 2024
Hurricane Hone, which formed in the Central Pacific, tracked towards the Hawaiian islands and passed by just south of the Big Island. Hurricane Hone's outer rain bands brought flooding to portions of the Big Island and the close proximity of the center of the storm brought widespread tropical storm force winds with pockets of power outages over the Big Island and Maui. Thousands of customers re...
Flash Flood — Sep 18, 2024
An unstable atmosphere in addition to abundant moisture allowed persistent heavy rain to develop over the Big Island Kona slopes. This heavy rainfall led to flash flooding with multiple properties reportedly flooded.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Hawaii County, Hawaii:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Hawaii County, Hawaii that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.