(AP) – Thousands of Hawaii residents are coping with a shortage of inexpensive insurance in sprawling subdivisions built on Big Island generations ago in the two most hazardous lava zones. Those areas offer some of the most affordable housing in Hawaii, but private insurers have almost entirely abandoned Lava Zones 1 and 2 because they were deemed too risky to cover. That means for many homeowners there the only coverage available is offered by the Hawaii Property Insurance Association, but that has become so expensive that people in the lava zones are canceling their policies or putting their homes up for sale. Experts say little can be done about the escalating cost.

Story was originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

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