Resources for Condominium Owners, Prospective Buyers, and Boards of Directors & Associations

Resources for Condominium Owners, Prospective Buyers, Boards of Directors & Associations

Ownership in a condominium is different from other forms of ownership. A condominium is a form of ownership shared with others rather than a particular structure and many types of property can be in a condominium project, such as residential high rises, townhomes, single family homes, warehouses, commercial offices, harbor slips, and farms. This type of ownership comes with unique sets of organization and management, with an association of units owners (AOUO) governing project. The Real Estate Commission and Branch have produced a large number of brochures, guides, flyers, and videos to help condominium unit owners understand their rights and responsibilities. The Real Estate Commission and Branch also maintain a public searchable online database of Developer’s Public Reports and an association contact list.
Please visit our frequently asked questions for more information.
Learn more about resources for associations during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as guidelines for running meetings.

Are you a new board member looking for quick educational materials? Check out the brochures with the Ⓑ next to them. Read our FAQ on this feature!

Association Registration/Re-Registration Forms & Biennial Registration Search
Board of Directors, Fiduciary Duty & Business Judgment Rule
Budgeting, Finances & Reserves
Condominium Governance & Information
Condominium Insurance
Does The Real Estate Commission Regulate Insurance?
No. The Insurance Division of the DCCA regulates some insurance, but the excess/surplus market is significantly less regulated by the state. The Hawaii Real Estate Commission has no authority to regulate insurance premiums or insurance providers.
 
What Does The Condominium Law Say About Insurance?
Chapter 514B, HRS, provides guidance as to what types of insurance are required, who needs to carry insurance, and the level of coverage. It does not grant the Hawaii Real Estate Commission authority to regulate insurance premiums or insurance providers.

  • §514B-103(a)(1), HRS, mandates fidelity bonding for associations registering biennially.
  • §514B-104(a)(14), HRS, grants the association power to provide for the indemnification of its officers, board, committee members, and agents, and maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance.
  • §514B-105(c), HRS, limits the association to how it can apply payments by unit owners, first to common expenses and only common expenses have bene paid in full can an association use it to pay for other expenses owed to the association, such as insurance deductibles.
  • §514B-105(e), HRS, clarifies that for purposes of this section, the financing of insurance premiums by the association within the policy period shall not be deemed a loan.
  • §514B-124, HRS, grants the purchaser of a unit pursuant to a recorded agreement of sale the right to vote on the nature and amount of any insurance covering the project and use of any of the proceeds as well as the payment of any amount if excess of insurance of condemnation proceeds.
  • §514B-132(a)(3), HRS, requires a managing agent to maintain a fidelity bond equal to $500 multiplied by the aggregate number of units of the association that they are managing. The commission has the power to request evidence of such fidelity bonding from an insurance company authorized by the insurance division of the DCCA.
  • §514B-141(b)(1), HRS, details that a developer is responsible under certain conditions regarding actions relating to tort losses not covered by either the association or a unit owner’s insurance.
  • §514B-143, HRS, is the primary insurance guidance for the chapter. Associations, unless otherwise provided in the declaration or bylaws, shall maintain certain levels of property insurance, commercial liability insurance, fidelity bonding covering employees and the managing agent (if any), and directors and officers liability coverage. If the project contains attached units, then the property insurance shall contain the limited common elements in the coverage, but not the improvements or furnishings within. If the project contains detached units, then the property insurance can be obtained separately for each unit by the unit owners. The section also notes that the governing documents and the board may require the association to carry any other type of insurance and that flood insurance shall be maintained if the property is in a special flood hazard area. Finally, the board, with consent of the majority of owners, may require unit owners to obtain reasonable types and levels of insurance and should an owner not purchase insurance, the board may, in good faith, purchase it for them and charge the reasonable premium back to the unit owner.
  • §514B-148(h)(5), HRS, details that the classification “emergency situations” includes extraordinary expenses to obtain insurance coverage.
  • §514B-154(b), HRS and §514b-154.5(a)(1), HRS, notes that insurance policies are documents owners have the right to examine.
  • §514B-161(b)(4), HRS and §514b-162(b)(7), HRS, clarify that mediation and arbitration are not mandatory for issues pertaining to the AOUO’s ability to obtain insurance coverage.

 

Are There Any Limits On How Much Our Insurance Rates Can Rise?
As the Real Estate Commission has no jurisdiction over the insurance market or providers, we cannot answer this question and instead direct you to the Insurance Division of the DCCA.
 
Condominium Informational Email Subscription List
Condominium Association Contact Information, Developer's Public Report Database, & Statewide Interactive Map of Projects
  • Association of Unit Owners (AOUO) Contact List (PDF) (REVISED 1/30/25)
    Contact list of condominium projects, their association contact person and managing agent (if any). The information at this PDF is provided by the State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) as a public service and is intended to be used solely as reference material.  DCCA does not represent that the information contained herein is accurate, complete and/or current.  Information provided by the DCCA at this site is provided on an “as is” basis and the DCCA makes no guarantees as to its accuracy.  Assessing the accuracy and reliability of the information contained at this site is the user’s responsibility. Associations who have not registered in several renewal cycles may be missing from this list.
  • Developer’s Public Reports/Association Biennial Registration
    Online search for condominium projects' Developer’s Public Reports and current association biennial registration information

  • Geographic Information System - Condominium Mapping (Office of Planning - GIS)
    Online mapping of condominium projects statewide. Information provided by the Office of Planning and DCCA at this site is provided on an “as is” basis and the Office of Planning and DCCA makes no guarantees as to its accuracy. (Account may be required)
  • Links to Other Agencies and Organizations
    Information for finding maps, permitting, the Regulated Industries Complaints Office, and other agencies to help you find condominium related information
Condominium Law, Rules, and Legislative Updates
Mediation of Condominium Disputes
Educational, Condorama, & Video Seminars
Prospective Buyers & Owner Occupants