Hawaii is an area prone to destructive floods and hurricanes especially in islands such as Honolulu. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are also common phenomena. Apart from these natural calamities, destruction can occur within the home as a result of human or technical problems. Thus it’s very imperative for homeowners to take up the available insurance policies to avoid getting into total losses when the unfortunate occurs.

Types of coverage available for Hawaii homeowners can be broadly classified into:

• Coverage for the home: this covers for all structures attached to the home including the exteriors. Thus things like the garage and the lanai will be sufficiently catered for if attached to the home. The replacement cost for this policy is usually rounded off to the nearest $1000.
• Coverage for structures not attached to the home: this will include unattached garage and a tool shed. The swimming pool and other recreation facilities within the compound are also covered. The coverage limit is usually 10% of the total replacement cost.
• Personal property coverage: this caters for the property of the insured wherever they are located in the world. The limit covered is usually 50% of the replacement cost.
  Additional living expenses and rental costs: this will specifically cater for the cost incurred when one has to rent a house as a result of his/her home being in unlivable conditions. However the cost of renting the new home should be similar to that of old home otherwise the excess amounts are payable by the insured.
• Medical expenses for others who are injured within the property or as a result of actions of the insured.
• Personal liability coverage: it covers for legal costs for the insured if someone files a lawsuit against them for property damage or bodily harm.

Persons buying the homeowners insurance need to be aware of certain points before actually purchasing the policy and as a way of ensuring maximum value for their money.

• Most of the homeowners insurance companies in Hawaii usually will not cover perils such as floods and earthquakes in their policies. Thus it would be advisable to get a separate policy that will cater for some of the losses from these perils.
• Decide on how much coverage you really need to avoid instances of over or under insurance.
• Compare deductibles from various companies to ensure you pay the least amounts when a disaster occurs.