Hawai‘i’s Coral Reef Insurance Policy Renewed for 2025, Fostering Hawaiʻi Emergency Reef Restoration Network

Today, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) renewed Hawai‘i’s coral reef insurance policy for 2025 with Munich Re Group. TNC initially purchased the policy in 2022, the first in the U.S., to fund rapid coral reef repair and restoration immediately following hurricane or tropical storm damage. These policies highlight the growing need for novel cross-sector approaches to address the impacts of climate change.

They also highlight the need for and power of collaboration. After purchasing Hawaiʻi’s first reef insurance policy, TNC convened an emergency reef restoration coalition, which has since coalesced into the Hawai‘i Emergency Reef Restoration (HERR) Network. The network subsequently developed statewide guidance for rapid response and established local teams to respond in the event of a disaster.

“Pioneering a reef insurance policy for Hawai‘i has been an essential and exciting first step, but we also need to be prepared to implement reef repair and restoration,” says Ulalia Woodside Lee, executive director, The Nature Conservancy, Hawai‘i and Palmyra. “It’s exciting to see how new partnerships are transforming a potential climate disaster into a stronger community and ocean.”

Last year, the HERR Network put its plans into action by reattaching corals on Oʻahu and two coral recovery projects on Hawaiʻi island. The network is also committed to responding to other damaging events and reef emergencies. Next steps include continuing and expanding training for emergency reef response, refining response protocols, and establishing long-term governance and a sustainable funding structure.

“Spurring the formation of the HERR Network and the development of coordinated statewide emergency response plans was an added benefit of the reef insurance,” says Brian Neilson, Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources administrator. “This collaboration and preparation ensures we are well positioned to respond when needed.”

“Having seen the devastation and helped with removal of many truckloads of man-made debris off our coral reefs after Hurricanes Iniki and Iwa, I’m relieved to know we now have a statewide network prepared to respond to future hurricanes and other emergencies,” says Captain Tara Leota, marine biologist and founder of @kauaioceanawareness and a member of the HERR Network. “I’m grateful we now have trained teams that can not only clean up the reefs but also repair them.”

The renewed policy is the same as last year’s. It covers the Main Hawaiian Islands and is triggered when tropical storm winds of 50 knots or greater pass through the core zone. The maximum payout total is $2 million over the year-long policy period and $1 million per storm. As policy holder, TNC will disburse funds to partners for reef damage assessments and rapid restoration after qualifying storms trigger payouts.

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For more information visit our Insuring Nature page at nature.org

Photos and b-roll available here.