Hawaiʻi’s first-ever reef insurance is triggered after hurricane winds and heavy rains hit the islands 

For the first time in four years since The Nature Conservancy purchased the first coral reef insurance policy in the United States, the policy will fund damage assessment and reef repair following this weekend’s impacts from Hurricane Lala, which brought dangerous flooding, strong winds and massive power outages throughout the state. 

Active since 2022, the policy is designed to provide rapid funding for damage assessment and reef repair following hurricanes or severe tropical storms across the Islands. This is the first storm — with sustained winds of 65 knots within the covered area — to trigger the insurance policy. The minimum payout is $200,000. 

Although TNC is the policy holder, disbursement of the payout will be determined collaboratively with the Hawaiʻi Emergency Reef Restoration (HERR) Network. These funds will enable the HERR Network — a coordinated statewide coalition of government agencies, scientists, nonprofits and community groups — to assess reefs around the state after the storm and determine next steps to rescue, reattach and repair any damaged corals.  

The team will evaluate the damage in the coming weeks and determine the best course of action to catalyze reef recovery.   

“This is how it’s intended to work. Through the HERR Network we have a coalition of trained emergency reef responders who can respond rapidly in times of crisis,” says Julia Rose, TNC’s Coral Restoration Program Manager in Hawaiʻi and Palmyra.  

Already, the HERR Network has responded to this year’s back‑to‑back Kona Low storms which caused significant coral breakage and sedimentation across multiple islands. HERR Network members conducted rapid assessments and hands‑on restoration on Maui and Oʻahu, removing debris, reattaching broken corals, and stabilizing reef structures. These actions are vital to prevent further loss in the impacted areas and support the recovery of reefs and the benefits they provide to communities. 

Initially funded by philanthropic support, the policy has catalyzed new cross-sector partnerships and preparedness efforts across the state. The formation of the HERR Network is one of its most important outcomes. 

“Our reefs face many threats that are beyond our ability to address locally, but physical storm damage is an impact we can do something about. By acting quickly to assess and repair damaged reefs, we can give corals a better chance to recover and continue supporting Hawaiʻi’s communities,” Rose says. 

Generous support from the Howden Foundation and TNC enabled the purchase of the 2026 policy.