What are my risks?

• What are the chances of a hurricane destroying my home?
  
  
• Where have the most wind-related insurance claims been on Oahu
  
  
• What are the potential costs of future hurricanes on Oahu?
  
  
• Where have strong winds been measured On Oahu?

What are the chances of a hurricane destroying my home?

No one knows. We can only go on past history. Almost no one expected a hurricane as powerful as Iniki would strike Hawaii. The best we can guess is hurricanes in the future will probably hit Hawaii as frequently as they have in the past. We know that since 1950 five hurricanes or tropical storms have caused serious damage in Hawaii. Hurricane Nina in 1957 produced record winds in Honolulu. Hurricane Dot did a lot of damage on Kauai in 1959. Hurricane Iwa did extensive damage on Kauai and Oahu in 1982. Hurricane Estelle produced very high surf on Hawaii and Maui and floods on Oahu in 1986. Hurricane Iniki did extensive damage on Kauai and Leeward Oahu in 1992. Since 1950, seven other tropical storms or hurricanes could have caused serious damage. These include Hurricane Fernanda in 1993, Hurricane Emilia in 1994, and Hurricane Daniel in August 2000.

Where have the most wind-related insurance claims been for Oahu?

The data for this map was compiled from various insurance firms' homeowner policy claims from 1989 to 1999. This is intended to serve only for a general hazard indicator map and is not meant as a policy document.

Source: Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund

What are the potential losses from future hurricanes on Oahu?

If a Category 1 storm as strong as Hurricane Iwa, with winds gusting at 74 mph, strikes any of the islands in the state, we can guess from past experience that about 12% of the houses and apartments could be destroyed or heavily damaged and about 18% would probably experience minor damages.

If a Category 3 storm strikes any island with the same force as Iniki, with winds raging at 130 mph, we can guess that about 38% of the homes will be heavily damaged or destroyed. An additional 40% will probably have minor damages.

The following information was extrapolated from Kauai Damage in 1982 and 1992. ($ billion in 1992)

Source: Hawaii Coastal Hazard Mitigation Planning Project, Office of Planning, December 1993

Where have strong winds been measured on Oahu?

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Northeast trade winds predominate throughout most of the year and generally range in velocity between 10 and 20 mph. Trade winds of 40-60 mph occasionally occur.

During the 1993-1994 and 1994-1995 winter seasons, for example, strong and gusty trade winds of 40 to 50 mph lasted several days and inflicted damage to rooftops, tree limbs, and telephone equipment. The east-facing coastlines, as a result, are the windward coasts and most impacted by trade wind energy.

Kona winds are southerly winds and occur as light and variable winds during summer months. Strong Kona winds generally occur in the winter and have reached velocities of 50 mph.

Damaging winds on Oahu are most commonly associated with passing tropical cyclones. Historically, east-facing coastlines receive the brunt of strong onshore winds as storms approach the islands. As Hurricane Iwa passed west of Oahu, the highest winds were observed at the base of the Pali in Kaneohe.

Source: Fletcher, Charles, Eric Grossman, Bruce Richmond. Atlas of Natural Hazards in the Hawaiian Coastal Zone. 2000.