Hawaiian Hurricane Group

Carrier appetite summary

No dedicated public underwriting/appetite guide or producer manual is published on the Hawaiian Hurricane Group (HHG) site as of this refresh, so guidance below is inferred from publicly available company, product, and market information and should be treated as directional only. Confirm all specifics with HHG/Hyundai Marine & Fire underwriting or your Hawaii property MGA before binding. PREFERRED / TARGET BUSINESS - Residential 1–4 family owner-occupied dwellings in Hawaii, written on a Homeowners policy with optional hurricane coverage or as a standalone hurricane companion to an HO policy. HHG markets a homeowners product with “optional hurricane” focused specifically on the Hawaiian Islands, indicating strong appetite for standard residential risks in this geography. - Risks seeking flexible hurricane deductibles and coverage customization: the carrier emphasizes flexibility of coverages and deductibles for Hawaii homeowners, suggesting they are comfortable tailoring hurricane limits and deductibles while remaining within reinsurance and regulatory constraints. - Homes insured through common Hawaii distribution partners and fronting carriers such as Hyundai Marine & Fire (and other admitted homeowners carriers using HHG for the hurricane portion). HHG appears to operate in a specialty/partnered model where hurricane is attached to or coordinated with another homeowners carrier. RESTRICTED OR DECLINED CLASSES (INFERRED / MARKET-NORM) - Non‑Hawaii locations: all marketing, pricing, and regulatory positioning are specifically for the Hawaiian Islands; assume no appetite for properties outside Hawaii. - Non‑residential or large commercial property: public material only references homeowners and hurricane coverage for Hawaii homeowners; assume commercial structures, hotels, resorts, agricultural and industrial risks are outside appetite unless specifically arranged. - Severe structural concerns or high hazard conditions: as with most specialty hurricane writers in Hawaii, expect declinations or special underwriting for: • Poor roof condition, outdated or severely deteriorated structures. • Known prior unrepaired hurricane/wind losses. • Properties failing to meet minimum building code or mitigation standards, particularly in coastal and higher‑exposure wind zones. - Flood, storm surge, and pure water‑damage exposures: HHG‑managed hurricane policies are described in market commentary as excluding water/flood damage and being limited to hurricane wind damage during an official hurricane watch/warning. Expect strict exclusion of flood and surface water, and limited coverage for rain unless caused by covered wind damage; risks seeking flood/water coverage must place separate policies. GEOGRAPHIC NOTES - Territory is the State of Hawaii only. Product is explicitly “made for the Hawaiian Islands,” and the program is tied to Hawaii’s residential hurricane market structure and regulatory framework. - Under Hawaii law, residential hurricane writers must meet specific financial and program requirements; HHG operates in this regulated environment, so changes to state hurricane‑writer rules may affect appetite or capacity. - Within Hawaii, underwriting is typically county/zone sensitive for hurricane: coastal, ocean‑front, and high‑elevation exposures can carry stricter construction and deductible requirements, and may face tighter capacity or higher minimum deductibles. SUBMISSION / BINDING EXPECTATIONS (INFERRED) - Distribution is primarily via local agents and brokers: HHG consistently instructs consumers to “contact your agent” for quotes, indicating that submissions flow through appointed Hawaii producers rather than direct‑to‑consumer binding. - Expect standard home underwriting data: construction type, year built, roof type/age, square footage, protection class, prior losses, occupancy, and evidence of underlying homeowners coverage when hurricane is issued as a companion policy. - Hurricane trigger conditions: companion and stand‑alone hurricane policies in this market typically require that coverage only applies when the insured property is in a county under a hurricane watch or warning issued by the Pacific division of the National Weather Service; producers should be prepared to explain this trigger language to insureds and confirm it in the specific form set issued under the HHG program. - Binding restrictions: as with other Hawaii residential hurricane writers, anticipate moratoria on new business and coverage changes when a named storm is approaching or when a hurricane or tropical storm watch/warning is in effect for the islands; producers should monitor carrier bulletins or agent portals for real‑time restrictions. BROKER / PRODUCER NOTES - Access appears limited to appointed Hawaii agents with access to Hyundai Marine & Fire or other fronting homeowners carriers that use HHG for hurricane. Brokers should verify appointment status and any production requirements through their local underwriting contact. - HHG emphasizes education around ordinance or law and hurricane coverage gaps in older homes; producers should be prepared to discuss ordinance or law limitations, building‑code upgrade exposure, and the need for appropriate hurricane limits and deductibles, particularly for older frame and plantation‑style structures. - Because flood and most water damage are excluded under typical Hawaii hurricane forms, producers should proactively coordinate separate NFIP or private flood placements and clearly document coverage explanations to avoid E&O exposure. - Given evolving capacity and regulatory requirements for residential hurricane writers in Hawaii, treat appetite and pricing as dynamic; obtain current rating tools, forms, and bulletins from HHG or the managing agent before marketing or renewing significant books of business.

Referenced source pages