HI| Hawaiʻi Insurance Commissioner Scott K. Saiki’s August 26, 2026 Memorandum 2026-7A directs property insurers to handle Tropical Storm/Hurricane Lala claims promptly, fairly, and according to the applicable policy and Hawaiʻi law. Because Lala’s intensity and island-specific watches and warnings changed throughout the event, insurers must make coverage and deductible determinations using the particular policy language, the timing and location of loss, and the actual cause of damage—not a generalized characterization of the storm.
Key Points:
- Document and coordinate coverage: Insurers should retain records of the loss time and location, causation findings, policy and endorsements, applicable deductible, storm status/warnings, inspection evidence, and decision rationale. Where multiple policies may apply, carriers should coordinate rather than leaving the insured caught between coverage disputes.
- Separate classification from alerts: A hurricane watch or warning does not itself mean Lala was classified as a hurricane; notably, Hawaiʻi County received a Hurricane Warning before Lala reached hurricane strength. Insurers should not equate these terms unless the policy explicitly does so.
- Use claim-specific analysis: Insurers must evaluate the source of each loss—such as wind, rain, flood, or another cause—on its own facts and explain any denial, limitation, or deductible decision by citing the relevant policy provisions and factual basis.
Click here to see HI Memorandum 2026-7A with Timeline Attachment A