Hawaii volcanic activity risk
Hawaii County has the highest volcanic activity risk in Hawaii, scoring 100 out of 100 — rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii County | 100 | Very High |
| 2 | Maui County | 98.4 | Relatively High |
| 3 | Kalawao County | 18.2 | Very Low |
| 4 | Honolulu County | 0 | No Rating |
| 5 | Kauai County | 0 | No Rating |
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.
Volcanic Activity risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Hawaii:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest volcanic activity risk county in Hawaii?
Hawaii County, HI has the highest volcanic activity 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 volcanic activity risk?
1 of 5 scored Hawaii counties are rated "Very High" for volcanic activity risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.
What causes volcanic activity risk in Hawaii?
Volcanic activity risk reflects expected losses from lava flows, tephra fall, lahars (volcanic mudflows), and volcanic gases. The highest-risk counties are in Washington (Mt. Rainier), Oregon (Mt. Hood), and Hawaii (Kilauea, Mauna Loa). Alaska's Aleutian chain contains many active volcanoes affecting nearby communities and trans-Pacific air traffic. Volcanic ashfall events are reported at forecast-zone level in NOAA Storm Events and are not included in county-level counts.