I am often asked what it is like to be a loss adjuster in Hawaii. Living on the Big Island of Hawaii, I am surrounded by the beautiful Pacific Ocean and share the island with five volcanoes, including two that are still active. A 30-minute flight takes me to the island of Oahu and the center of Honolulu, packed with resorts, restaurants and beaches that attract tourists from around the world. But as I am writing, I feel the tremor of an earthquake that just registered 4.2 on the Richter scale, and I am reminded that the world of paradise and pineapples is not immune to its share of risks, hazards, and losses.

Risks in paradise

Hawaii is subject to hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding, hail, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions to name a few. Water damage is the most common culprit of loss.  Hurricanes can pound coastal structures and cause flooding. Given the terrain of the islands, rainfall can occur in the mountainous areas and drain to the lower-lying roadsides where many buildings stand. Earthquakes can fuel tsunamis that wreak havoc among residents and tourists alike. Humidity and the island's network of copper and cast-iron pipes do not mix well and result in ruptures that cause extensive water damage.