Hawaii lightning risk
Honolulu County has the highest lightning risk in Hawaii, scoring 100 out of 100 — rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honolulu County | 100 | Very High | 2 |
| 2 | Hawaii County | 97.6 | Very High | 4 |
| 3 | Maui County | 93.3 | Relatively High | 0 |
| 4 | Kauai County | 83.8 | Relatively High | 1 |
| 5 | Kalawao County | 0.3 | Very Low | 0 |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. Scores are 0–100 percentile rankings among all US counties. See the methodology page for definitions. Download the full CSV for all counties.
Lightning risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Hawaii:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest lightning risk county in Hawaii?
Honolulu County, HI has the highest lightning risk in Hawaii, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 100 out of 100 (rated "Very High").
How many counties in Hawaii are rated Very High for lightning risk?
2 of 5 scored Hawaii counties are rated "Very High" for lightning risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.
What causes lightning risk in Hawaii?
Lightning risk reflects expected annual losses from cloud-to-ground strikes, which ignite building fires, damage electrical systems, and cause fatalities. Florida consistently leads the US in lightning density. High scores also appear across the Gulf Coast, Southeast, and central Plains, where afternoon convective storms are most frequent in summer months.