The policies Hawaii businesses actually use

General Liability

General liability pays when someone outside your business is hurt or their property is damaged because of your work, your premises or your products. It covers your legal defense too, which is often the larger bill.

What it typically covers

• A customer slips on a wet floor in your shop
• Your crew damages a client's property while on the job
• Advertising injury, such as an accidental copyright claim on your marketing

Who needs it

Nearly every business. Landlords, general contractors and many commercial clients won't sign a contract without a certificate showing it.

• Often bundled as a Business Owner's Policy (BOP)
• Certificates issued same day

Commercial Property

Protects the building you own, or the improvements you've made to a space you lease, plus your equipment, furniture and inventory.

The Hawaii questions to ask

• Hurricane: Many policies carry a separate, higher hurricane deductible. Know the number before storm season.
• Flood: Standard property policies usually exclude flood. Separate flood coverage may be worth it depending on your location.
• Business interruption: Replaces lost income while you're closed for repairs after a covered loss.

Commercial Auto

Covers vehicles your business owns or leases, from a single work truck to a fleet of tour vans. Personal auto policies often exclude business use.

Also worth asking about

• Hired and non-owned auto: covers you when employees drive their own cars or rentals for work errands
• Passenger-carrying vehicles: tour and shuttle operators need specific limits and filings

Cyber Liability

If you take card payments, store customer information or rely on email and cloud software, a single breach or ransomware attack can shut you down for days.

• Breach response: forensics, customer notification and credit monitoring
• Funds transfer fraud from fake invoices and spoofed emails
• Lost income while systems are down

Professional & Specialty

Professional Liability (E&O)

For consultants, designers, accountants and anyone whose advice or work product could cost a client money if something goes wrong.

Liquor Liability

Restaurants, bars and event businesses that serve alcohol need this; general liability usually excludes it.

Contractor Bonds & Builder's Risk

License and performance bonds for contractors, plus coverage for a building while it's under construction.

Inland & Ocean Marine

Tools and equipment that travel between job sites or islands, and boats used for tours and charters.

Umbrella & Employment Practices

Commercial Umbrella

Extra liability limits that sit above your general liability, auto and employer's liability policies for the rare, very large claim.

Employment Practices Liability (EPLI)

Covers claims from employees for wrongful termination, discrimination or harassment. Worth considering as soon as you hire.

Workers' Comp & TDI

Workers' Compensation

Covers medical bills and lost wages when an employee is hurt on the job, and protects you from most lawsuits over workplace injuries.

Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI)

Replaces part of an employee's wages when they can't work because of an injury or illness that happened off the job.

• Workers' Comp
• TDI