Hawaii Renters Insurance Cost

General information, not insurance advice. This article explains renters insurance pricing in Hawaii using published figures. It is not a quote and not advice about what coverage you should buy. Confirm your coverage with a licensed Hawaii insurance agent.

Last verified: 12 November 2026.

The short answer

Hawaii renters pay about $13–$14 a month ($157–$165 a year) on average for renters insurance:

The $13–$14 figures are the consensus average from rate analyses; the $22 figure uses a different estimation method. Use $13–$22 a month as the realistic range, with most renters landing at the low end. The national average is about $14–$16 a month, so Hawaii is at or slightly below the US average.

By city (RentersInsuranceCalc, June 2026): Honolulu $24/mo ($288/yr); Kailua $23/mo ($276/yr). Statewide, MoneyGeek’s average is $13/mo ($157/yr). Cheapest carrier found by MoneyGeek: State Farm from $9/mo ($111/yr) for the same $20,000 coverage profile, saving about $48 a year against the state average. Rates from identical coverage range from $9 to $20 a month across carriers, so comparing quotes can save up to $11 a month.

What renters insurance covers

A standard HO-4 (renters) policy has three parts:

1. Personal property — your belongings (furniture, electronics, clothes) against fire, theft, vandalism, and certain water damage. Typical coverage: $20,000–$30,000.
2. Liability — if someone is injured in your unit or you accidentally damage someone else’s property. Typical coverage: $100,000.
3. Loss of use / additional living expenses — hotel and food costs if a covered event makes your unit uninhabitable.

What it does not cover:

• Flood. Your belongings are not covered against rising water unless you buy a separate NFIP contents policy. Your landlord’s flood policy (if they have one) covers the building, not your things.
• Earthquake. Separate policy or endorsement.
• Your landlord’s building. The landlord’s policy covers the structure. It covers none of your property and none of your liability.

That last point is the most common misunderstanding in Hawaii rentals. After the March 2026 Kona Low storms flooded hundreds of homes, many renters discovered that neither their landlord’s policy nor their own (if they had none) would pay for their ruined belongings.

Is renters insurance required in Hawaii?

Not by state law. But:

• Many Hawaii leases require it, typically $100,000 in liability coverage, and landlords can ask for proof at move-in.
• Some condo buildings (AOAOs) require it of tenant-occupants as a condition of the lease or house rules.
• Lenders don’t require it — it only applies to renters, not owners.

Even where it’s not required, it is the cheapest insurance product in Hawaii: roughly the cost of one plate lunch a month for $20,000–$30,000 of property coverage plus $100,000 of liability.

What affects the price

• Coverage amount. $20,000 vs $50,000 of personal property is the biggest lever. Take a quick inventory — most renters underestimate: a laptop, TV, phone, and furniture easily total $5,000–$10,000.
• Deductible. $500 is standard; $1,000 lowers the premium.
• Location. Rates vary by ZIP, property crime, and flood exposure. Honolulu runs about $24/mo and Kailua about $23/mo (RentersInsuranceCalc, June 2026).
• Bundling. Adding renters to an auto policy with the same carrier is the most common discount.
• Claims and credit history. Both factor into the quote.

Renters insurance in a Hawaii condo

If you rent a condo, two extra things matter:

1. Your landlord’s HO-6 policy does not cover you. It covers the owner’s unit interior and liability — not a tenant’s belongings.
2. Loss assessment: if the building is assessed after an insured loss, the assessment falls on the owner, not the tenant — but a landlord may try to pass costs through. That is a lease question, not an insurance question; read the lease.

How to buy it

1. Take a 10-minute inventory (phone photos of each room).
2. Decide the personal property limit — $20,000 is the common starting point; $30,000 if you own a lot of electronics or furniture.
3. Get quotes from 2–3 carriers for the identical profile ($20,000–$30,000 property, $100,000 liability, $500 deductible).
4. Ask about bundling with auto, and about a flood contents endorsement if you’re in a low-lying or coastal unit.
5. Keep the declarations page — your landlord or building may ask for it.

FAQ

Does my landlord’s insurance cover my stuff?
No. The landlord’s policy covers the building. Your belongings and your liability are yours to insure.

Does renters insurance cover flooding?
No — flood is excluded. Contents-only flood coverage is available separately through the NFIP. If your ground-floor unit is in a flood zone, ask about it.

Does renters insurance cover hurricanes?
Wind damage to your belongings is generally covered under a standard renters policy, but check the hurricane/wind provisions — some Hawaii renters policies carry a separate wind deductible or exclusion. Read the policy, don’t assume.

Is $13 a month really the average?
For the $20,000 personal property / $100,000 liability / $500 deductible profile, yes — MoneyGeek ($157/yr) and NerdWallet ($165/yr) agree within $8 a year. Higher coverage limits cost more.

I just moved to Hawaii. Do I need a Hawaii-specific policy?
Yes — buy a policy rated for your Hawaii address. A mainland renters policy does not follow you, and Hawaii rates and wind provisions differ from mainland policies.

Sources

• MoneyGeek, “Best Renters Insurance in Hawaii 2026.” https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/renters/best-cheap-renters-insurance-in-hawaii/
• NerdWallet, “How Much Is Renters Insurance in 2026?” (updated 23 September 2026). https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/renters/learn/how-much-is-renters-insurance
• RentersInsuranceCalc, “Hawaii Renters Insurance Cost 2026” (updated 23 June 2026). https://rentersinsurancecalc.com/state-guides/hawaii
• Insurance Information Institute, Renters Insurance Guide.

Prices are published figures as of the dates cited, not quotes. Verify current rates with a licensed agent.