Earthquakes are a regular hazard in Hawaiʻi. The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says thousands of earthquakes occur in Hawaiʻi every year, most too small to notice, but some strong enough to be felt across one or more islands. USGS also notes that the hazard of earthquakes in Hawaiʻi is among the highest in the United States, with the south side of Hawaiʻi Island facing the greatest threat.
Why It Matters in Hawaiʻi
In Hawaiʻi, earthquakes are not just a surface-level threat They can affect homes, condo communities, roads, utilities, businesses, and access to services, especially on Hawaiʻi Island where seismic activity is closely tied to both volcanic processes and the structure of the islands themselves. USGS explains that Hawaiʻi earthquakes are caused by eruptive processes within active volcanoes and by deep structural adjustments from the weight of the islands on Earth’s crust.
That local context matters because residents, AOAO communities, and businesses may face disruption even when damage is uneven from place to place. Hawaiʻi businesses also operate in an island environment where road access, utilities, and continuity of operations can be especially important after a damaging event. Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Association (HI-EMA) and Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense both frame earthquake readiness as part of broader emergency preparedness planning for island communities.
Immediate Safety Guidance
For Individuals
the immediate priority during an earthquake is to Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Ready.gov says people should drop to their hands and knees, cover their head and neck, shelter under a sturdy desk or table if possible, and hold on until the shaking stops. If outdoors, move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines.
For Businesses
safety planning should focus first on protecting employees, customers, tenants, and visitors. That means identifying safe spots inside facilities, knowing who makes shutdown decisions, having a way to communicate quickly, and planning for utility disruption or building access issues after shaking ends. HI-EMA guidance also recommends having a family or facility readiness plan and knowing how to turn off utilities when appropriate.
Common Risks & Impacts
For Individuals
For households, earthquake impacts can include structural damage, falling objects, broken utilities, damaged vehicles, temporary displacement, and unsafe reentry conditions. USGS notes that strong earthquakes in Hawaiʻi have damaged buildings, roads, bridges, and utilities, and that damage can be intensified in some areas by water-saturated soils.
For Businesses
For businesses, the losses may go beyond visible property damage. Operations can be interrupted by building inspections, road closures, utility outages, employee safety concerns, supply disruptions, and customer access issues. In Hawaiʻi, where continuity often depends on limited routes and critical infrastructure, even moderate damage can affect reopening timelines and normal operations.
What Most People Don’t Realize
One thing many people do not realize is that not every earthquake hazard comes from one dramatic, isolated event. Because seismic activity in Hawaiʻi is closely connected to both volcanoes and deep structural processes, earthquakes can happen more often than people expect, and some may arrive with little warning. USGS says HVO continuously monitors both earthquakes and active volcanoes in Hawaiʻi to assess hazards and issue warnings.
Another blind spot is indoor risk. Many earthquake injuries come from falling or shifting objects, not collapsed buildings. Ready.gov’s earthquake preparedness guidance emphasizes securing heavy furniture and household items before an event happens, because preparation inside the home or workplace can reduce injuries during shaking.
How to Prepare
Before the Event
- Preparation starts with identifying safe places in each room and securing tall furniture and heavy objects
- Build an emergency kit
- Make a family or business communications plan
Ready.gov and HI-EMA both recommend planning ahead, knowing how to shut off utilities when appropriate, and keeping essential supplies ready in case access to services is disrupted.
For homes, that may mean:
- Anchoring shelves
- Moving heavy items lower
- Documenting belongings
- Planning for pets, medications, and important records.
For businesses, that may mean:
- Continuity planning
- Employee communications
- Backup records
- Emergency contacts
- Internal procedures for inspections
- Reopening decisions after an event
Ready.gov’s earthquake preparedness collection also stresses securing interior hazards before shaking starts.
After the Event
After an earthquake, safety still comes first.
People should:
- Check for injuries
- Avoid damaged areas
- Watch for gas leaks or downed lines,
- Be prepared for aftershocks. Ready.gov advises people to expect aftershocks and carefully inspect surroundings before moving through a damaged area
Hawaiʻi-specific emergency planning guidance also supports checking utilities and following official updates before reentry or cleanup.
Insurance & Risk Considerations
Earthquakes can create complicated recovery situations because shaking may affect structures, utilities, access, contents, and operations differently from property to property. In Hawaiʻi, where earthquake exposure is not uniform across the islands, reviewing location-specific risk and continuity planning ahead of time can help residents, condo communities, and businesses ask better questions before a damaging event occurs. USGS hazard pages make clear that exposure is higher in some parts of the state, especially on the south side of Hawaiʻi Island.
The practical takeaway is that earthquake preparedness is not just about life safety in the moment. It is also about understanding how damage, downtime, and recovery would affect a household, AOAO community, or business afterward. Planning early can make post-event decisions much more manageable.
How Atlas Can Help
Atlas Insurance Agency can help Hawaiʻi residents, condominium communities, and businesses think through earthquake-related risk before an event happens — and navigate recovery questions afterward. That may include helping clients review location-based exposures, continuity planning, documentation practices, and claims-related considerations tied to homes, AOAO communities, and business operations.
Our role is to help clients prepare earlier, respond more confidently, and recover more smoothly.
Resources & Downloads
For practical preparedness and recovery tools, Atlas can feature resources such as:
For individuals and households
- Infographic: Been Impacted by an Earthquake — What’s Next?
- Safety Matters: Earthquake Actions
- Prepare for an Earthquake Before It Hits
- Home Matters: Earthquake Preparedness Tips
For businesses
For both audiences
- Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency earthquake preparedness tools
Looking for additional preparedness and risk management resources? Explore helpful content pieces available through the MyATLAS Connection Client Portal, where Atlas clients can access curated materials designed to support planning, safety, and recovery.
Atlas Insurance Agency is available for media interviews related to earthquake preparedness, seismic risk, insurance considerations, condo community exposure, and business continuity in Hawaiʻi.