Honokaa People's Theatre · Photo: Ross stephenson · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Honokaa than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Honokaa gets a D− for hazard risk: among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then earthquakes (20%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Honokaa faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Honokaa’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Honokaa, and Honokaa’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Earthquakes add 20%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D− among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Honokaa’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Honokaa: $3.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Honokaa flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Honokaa. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Honokaa isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hawaii County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Honokaa
Disasters that paid out in Honokaa itself (aid to households or repair grants to Honokaa), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2006Earthquake249 households applied for aid$464K aid approved
Hawaii County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms.
Also 11 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Hawaii County, 2000–2026.
Old photos of Honokaa after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Honokaa archive →Get ready for what Honokaa faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Honokaa
Is Honokaa at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Honokaa has among the highest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and earthquakes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Honokaa in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Hawaii County, 1.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Honokaa?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Honokaa’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Honokaa?
By FEMA money that reached Honokaa, Earthquake (2006): 249 households applied for aid, $464K approved.
Is Honokaa at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Honokaa’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Honokaa.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Honokaa’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.