The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Oʻahu following a multi-year flood risk study conducted from 2019 to 2024. The updated maps identify flood zones and high-risk flood areas, including many streams that had not previously been studied.
As of June 10, 2026, the updated FIRMs are effective, along with all regulatory and flood insurance requirements.
Property owners are encouraged to review the updated maps to determine whether their flood risk designation has changed. Some properties newly located within a Special Flood Hazard Area may be required by lenders to obtain flood insurance. These properties may also have to follow new regulations during the building permit process.
Lā‘ie, Kāneʻohe, Waiʻanae, and East Honolulu are among the areas most impacted by the new maps. All homeowners though are encouraged to review the flood maps before the effective date to determine whether their flood zone designation has changed. Use the button below to find your property on the flood map.
For instructions on how to use the viewer, click here. For more information on map changes and flood insurance, see this brochure from FEMA.
What to do if you are in a flood zone:
Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are regulated by the City and are considered to have special flood or flood-related erosion hazard risk by FEMA. Properties newly mapped within these areas (Zones A, AE, AEF, AH, AO, V, and VE) may be subject to new permitting requirements.
Depending on the scope of construction, projects in these areas may no longer be eligible for Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) “Quick Permits” and may be required to submit a Building Permit application for review instead.
For more information on what qualifies for a Quick Permit, click here. Applicants who believe their project should still qualify for a Quick Permit, should contact DPP.
Important: Properties newly designated within a with permit applications submitted and pending review prior to June 10, 2026, are strongly encouraged to evaluate whether modifications to their plans are appropriate to meet current floodplain management standards. A project designed under the previous flood regulations may be subject to adverse flood insurance implications after construction.
Additionally, all properties and structures located within the SFHA must comply with the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Chapter 21A – Flood Hazard Areas. Applicants should contact DPP via email to learn more.
If your property is located within one of these flood zones, now is a good time to review and compare flood insurance options for your property.
Property owners who are required to obtain flood insurance and do not purchase a policy within 45 days of the effective date may have coverage force-placed by their lender. In those cases, the lender selects the policy, which may result in higher costs or less favorable coverage terms.
Residents are encouraged to speak with their insurance provider to determine whether they qualify for pre-FIRM or newly mapped discounts and to identify the best time to purchase a policy. Even if flood insurance is not required for your property, every property carries some level of flood risk, and coverage may still be worth considering.
Head to the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency’s website for more information on what actions you should be taking now.
Believe your property shouldn't be in a flood zone? Here is how to request a change:
If you believe the map updates are technically incorrect for an area and you were unable to submit an appeal during the appeal process, residents can work with FEMA to potentially change their FIRM designation at any time through processes called Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision (LOMR). While the LOMA/LOMR is being reviewed, the current FIRM designation will be effective. If your building is identified as being in a high risk flood zone, but the FIRM shows the building is outside of that zone, the LOMA (Out as Shown) process may assist a homeowner in working with their lender to remove the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact the FEMA Mapping and Insurance exchange, or FMIX, via FEMA-FMIX@fema.dhs.gov, live chat, or at 1-877-336-2627 (2:00 am to 1:00 pm HST). Self-service options are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Did you receive damage from the Kona low storms? The new map could affect how you rebuild:
If your property was damaged during the recent Kona low storm and will soon be located within a newly designated flood zone, you may be required to comply with additional floodplain regulations. This applies to properties that will soon be within Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zones A, AE, AEF, AH, AO, V, and VE).
The extent of the damage may also determine whether proposed repair or improvement work is subject to FEMA’s Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage (SI/SD) requirements. If a structure meets the SI/SD criteria, it may be required to be brought into compliance with Honolulu’s local floodplain management ordinance.
Below are the definitions of Substantial Improvement and Substantial Damage. Additional information can be found on FEMA’s website.
Substantial Improvement:
- This means any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure (or smaller percentage if established by the community) before the “start of construction” of the improvement. This term includes structures that have incurred “substantial damage,” regardless of the actual repair work performed.
Substantial Damage:
- This means damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would equal or exceed 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred. Work on structures that are determined to be substantially damaged is considered to be substantial improvement, regardless of the actual repair work performed.
If a building is in a Special Flood Hazard Area and is determined to be SI/SD, it will have to be in compliance with current flood ordinance. This may involve:
- Elevating or modifying a structure to meet floodplain standards
- Relocating or demolishing a structure
- Floodproofing non-residential or historic buildings
For more information on what permits are required for these types of work, head to www.honolulu.gov/dpp/permitting/building-permits-home/building-permit
You can also email DPP for any further questions: dpp@honolulu.gov.