First Insurance Company of Hawaii home insurance review
First Insurance Company of Hawaii provides quality service at a low price for Hawaiian homeowners, including NFIP flood insurance and special coverage against hurricane damage.
By
Jessica OlivoJessica OlivoFreelance contributorJessica Olivo is a writer living in Connecticut. She specializes in web and blog content in a variety of topics such as parenting, business, and culture, as well as serialized and short fiction.After working in publishing and book publicity for many years, she transitioned to freelance writing full time.
Edited by
Jennifer GimbelJennifer GimbelSenior Managing Editor & Home Insurance ExpertJennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor at Policygenius, where she oversees all of our insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.
Our proprietary ratings methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the “Ratings methodology” section for more details.
4.9
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
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The bottom line
First Insurance Company of Hawaii (FICOH) is a great option for Hawaiian homeowners looking to save money on their home insurance without sacrificing customer service or financial stability. Its home insurance rates are cheaper than the already-low state average, and you can save even more by bundling your home and car insurance policies with the insurer.
FICOH is also a stellar choice for homeowners at high risk of hurricane damage — it offers a special coverage that automatically pays out a predetermined amount based on the size and proximity of the storm, regardless of whether your home is damaged or not.
The one downside? You can’t file claims online — you’ll need to call, email, or fax your agent to begin the process.
Rates are 11% cheaper than the Hawaii state average — plus you can save up to 40% by bundling your home and auto policies
Special hurricane coverage pays out a predetermined amount based on the size and proximity of the storm — regardless of whether your home is damaged
Can purchase NFIP flood insurance at the same time as your standard home insurance policy
Cons
Not much information about coverage add-ons available online
Can't file claims online — must call, fax, or email your agent
Only available to Hawaii homeowners
Basic coverages offered
First Insurance Company of Hawaii home insurance policies include these six standard coverages to protect your home, belongings, and personal liability:
Dwelling coverage: Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home after a covered loss.
Other structures coverage: Pays to repair or rebuild other structures on your property not connected to your home, including detached garages, storage sheds, and fencing.
Personal property coverage: Pays to repair or replace your personal belongings after a covered loss, including furniture, clothing, tech gadgets, and other stuff you own.
Loss of use coverage: Pays for hotel stays, restaurant bills, pet boarding fees, and other temporary living expenses after a covered loss if you need to live elsewhere while your home is being rebuilt.
Personal liability coverage: Pays for legal and medical expenses if someone is injured or their belongings are damaged while at your home and you’re found legally responsible.
Medical payments coverage: Pays for small-dollar medical bills if someone is injured while at your home — regardless of who is at fault.
Additional coverages offered
You can add these additional coverages to your First Insurance Company of Hawaii homeowners insurance policy for even more protection:
Extended replacement cost for your home: Extends your dwelling coverage limit up to 15% or 20% in case rebuild costs exceed your policy limit after a covered loss.
Flood insurance: Offers flood insurance coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a government program run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
FirstTrack hurricane policy: Special hurricane coverage that pays out a predetermined amount based on the size and proximity of the storm — regardless of whether your home is damaged
Identity theft: Offers everything from assistance with your credit reports to attorney fees resulting from identity fraud to help replacing personal identification documents destroyed in a natural disaster.
Renters insurance: Purchased by tenants, renters insurance covers the personal belongings in your rental home or apartment against fire, vandalism, theft, windstorms, and water damage, as well as personal liability and loss of use coverage.
Ratings methodology
Price
4.6/5
Our price rating scale looks at home insurance rates for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, as well as the total number of discounts offered. First Insurance Company of Hawaii's average annual rate of $437 is around 11% cheaper than the Hawaii state average of $486 per year.
Customer experience
5.0/5
Our customer experience scale uses data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index. First Insurance Company of Hawaii has a score of 0, which means it received 100% fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size in 2021. (The expected number would be 1.0.)
Coverage options
3.7/5
Our coverage options rating is based on both the number and quality of additional coverage and policy options offered by the company. First Insurance Company of Hawaii scores middle of the pack compared to other regional home insurance companies.
Financial strength
5.0/5
Our financial strength rating is a weighted combination of three industry-leading metrics to measure a company’s financial health: A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s (S&P), and Moody’s. First Insurance Company of Hawaii has an A+ rating from A.M. Best and S&P, but is not rated by Moody’s.
How much does First Insurance Company of Hawaii home insurance cost?
The average cost of home insurance with First Insurance Company of Hawaii is $437 per year for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage. This is around 11% cheaper than the Hawaii state average of $486 per year.
Here’s the average yearly cost of First Insurance Company of Hawaii home insurance for five different levels of dwelling coverage:
Dwelling coverage limit
Average annual cost
$100,000
$241
$200,000
$308
$300,000
$437
$400,000
$592
$500,000
$748
Rates are based on our analysis of 2022 sample home insurance quotes from across the country provided by Quadrant Information Services. Actual rates will vary based on location, policy limits, coverages, claims history, and other factors.
Compare home insurance quotes with top insurers in minutes
What discounts does First Insurance Company of Hawaii offer?
You can save on the cost of First Insurance Company of Hawaii home insurance if you qualify for any of these discounts:
Loss-free: If you go so many years without filing a claim.
Customer loyalty: Save up to 11% when you renew your FICOH home insurance policy each year.
First Insurance Company of Hawaii home insurance state availability
First Insurance Company of Hawaii home insurance policies are only available in Hawaii.
What to expect with First Insurance Company of Hawaii home insurance
How to get a quote: You can get a First Insurance Company of Hawaii home insurance quote online or by contacting a local agent through the Find an Agent tool on its website.
Customer service options: You can get in touch with a First Insurance Company of Hawaii customer service rep by calling 808-527-7777 or 800-272-5202, emailing contact@FICOH.com, or logging in to your online account.
How to file a claim: You can file a First Insurance Company of Hawaii home insurance claim by contacting your local agent, calling 808-527-7777 or 800-272-5202, faxing 808-545-3120, or emailing claimsreportsdesk@FICOH.com.
How to cancel your policy: You can cancel your First Insurance Company of Hawaii home insurance policy by calling your First Insurance Company of Hawaii agent (their contact info should be on your policy declarations page), by mail, or by visiting your local agent in person.
First Insurance Company of Hawaii vs. other home insurance companies
Compare First Insurance Company of Hawaii to other home insurance companies in the industry:
What is the customer service phone number for First Insurance Company of Hawaii?
You can contact First Insurance Company of Hawaii’s customer service department by calling 808-527-7777 if you live in Oahu or 800-272-5202 for all other customers.
When was First Insurance Company of Hawaii founded?
First Insurance Company of Hawaii was founded in 1911 and is a member of the Tokio Marine North America group of companies.
What type of insurance does First Insurance Company of Hawaii offer?
First Insurance Company of Hawaii offers homeowners and auto insurance, as well as commercial insurance and workers’ compensation for businesses.
Does First Insurance Company of Hawaii offer online bill pay?
Jessica Olivo is a writer living in Connecticut. She specializes in web and blog content in a variety of topics such as parenting, business, and culture, as well as serialized and short fiction.
After working in publishing and book publicity for many years, she transitioned to freelance writing full time.
Jennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor at Policygenius, where she oversees all of our insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.
