Natural Disaster Risk in Kalaupapa

Natural Hazard Profile: Kalaupapa, Hawaii

Kalaupapa is a small unincorporated community in Kalawao County, in the Hawaiian archipelago in the central Pacific. The area experiences warm temperatures moderated by trade winds and high volcanic terrain, with elevated rainfall from November through March shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Kalaupapa.

FEMA rates Kalaupapa's composite natural disaster risk at 3.3 out of 10 — low risk. The threat of tsunami inundation tops the local coastal risk profile, requiring residents in low-lying areas to maintain awareness of evacuation routes and warning systems. Residents should also account for volcano and coastal flood risk in their preparedness planning.

Kalaupapa's risk score, considerably below the 5.0/10 state average and below the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Kalawao County, the highest-scoring are tsunami, volcano, and coastal flood. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Kalaupapa carries a below-average natural disaster risk, reflecting fewer and less severe hazard exposures than typical U.S. communities. Even so, the area's primary risk — tsunami — warrants awareness and appropriate insurance coverage, as lower risk does not mean zero risk.