Natural Disaster Risk in Kilauea

Natural Hazard Profile: Kilauea, Hawaii

Kilauea, in Kauai County, is a town of roughly 4,272 residents situated in the Hawaiian archipelago in the central Pacific. Its tropical climate brings warm temperatures moderated by trade winds and high volcanic terrain, and in particular elevated rainfall from November through March. These conditions collectively define the natural hazard environment that Kilauea residents and property owners must navigate.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Kilauea carries an overall risk score of 4.8/10, placing it in the moderate category. Tsunami risk is the primary coastal hazard, driven by the area's proximity to seismically active offshore zones capable of generating ocean waves that inundate low-lying coastlines. The area also faces notable exposure to landslide and wildfire.

Within Hawaii, Kilauea's risk is, near the 5.0/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Kauai County identifies tsunami as the foremost hazard, followed by landslide and wildfire. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

Kilauea's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that tsunami exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.