About Us
Local Experts Protecting Local People
Island Insurance has proudly served Hawai‘i's individuals, families, and businesses statewide for over 85 years. Guided by our founding philosophy of providing insurance options for the people of Hawai‘i, Island has grown to be Hawaii’s largest locally owned and managed property and casualty (P&C) insurance company. We've achieved national recognition as a Ward Group Top 50 P&C insurer for 18 consecutive years and one of Hawai‘i Business Magazine’s Best Places to Work for 19 consecutive years.
Company History
Island Insurance Today
- Hawaiʻi’s only locally owned P&C insurer.
- Recognized as a Ward Top 50 P&C insurer for 18 consecutive years (only Hawaiʻi-based company with this distinction).
- "A" (Excellent) financial strength rating by A.M. Best Company for over 65 years.
- Over 15 years recognized as one of Hawaiʻi Business Magazine’s Best Places to Work.
- Over 150 employees serving Hawaiʻi with a full range of insurance products.
The Beginning of Island Insurance
- Incorporated: December 27, 1939
- Opened: April 6, 1940
- Purpose: Founded to serve Hawaiʻi’s growing minority population, who were previously considered too risky to insure by established companies.
- Early Operations:
- Initial offerings included automobile material damage, fire, and limited workers’ compensation coverage.
- Later expanded into general casualty lines.
- Core Beliefs:
- Guided by the motto “Always Here to Help.”
- Committed to standing by policyholders during challenging times.
- After Hurricane Iwa (1982) and Hurricane Iniki (1992), continued to renew policies and include hurricane coverage when many insurers withdrew from Hawaiʻi.
Our Founder: Masayuki Tokioka
- Born: 1897, Japan
- Immigrated to Hawaiʻi: Age 12
- Education:
- Kawananakoa Elementary (learned English)
- McKinley High School
- University of Hawaiʻi
- First Japanese-American graduate of Harvard Business School
- Personal Life:
- Three children: Lionel, Frank, and Marjorie
- Six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren
- Legacy:
- Regularly recognized among the most influential Asian-American businessmen in the U.S.
- Lived to 101 years old, passing in 1998
- Dedicated his life to evolving and growing Island Insurance
Island Insurance Awards Recognitions
Ward Group National Top 50 Recipient - P&C Insurers
Demotech STAR National Award Recipient
Hawaiʻi’s Best Car Insurance Company
Best Places to Work in Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Business Magazine
Best Places to Work in Insurance, Business Insurance Magazine
Pacific Business News Business Leadership Award
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi Company of the Year
Better Business Bureau of Hawaiʻi’s Torch Awards for Business Ethics
The Island Insurance Foundation
The Island Insurance Foundation, founded in 2003 as the charitable arm of Island Insurance, was created to serve as an entity solely dedicated to cultural, educational, and community support. Guided by its mission to offer broad support to the community, the Foundation continues to give back to the people of Hawaiʻi who have supported Island Insurance for over 80 years.
Today, it stands among the top 25 most active private foundations in the state, having donated nearly $11.5 million since its inception to a wide range of nonprofit organizations across Hawaiʻi that help those most in need.
Community
As a company created to provide the underserved people of Hawai‘i with better insurance options, our motto of Local Experts Protecting Local People is a true reflection of the strong local values woven throughout our organization.
Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award
One of Island Insurance Foundation’s first major initiatives was the establishment of the Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award, created to make a lasting impact on public education by recognizing outstanding public school principals. The award honors excellence in leadership and aims to inspire others to pursue positive change within their schools.
The award is named in honor of Masayuki Tokioka, noted businessman, community leader, and founder of Island Insurance. A proud public school graduate himself, Mr. Tokioka deeply valued the education he received and sought to recognize others who continue to shape Hawaiʻi’s educational future.
Between 2005 – 2025, the program has awarded over $650,000 to public school principals across Hawaiʻi in recognition of their dedication and to help fund high-impact school projects. (Note: The award was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic).
Today, the program is carried on by the Public Schools of Hawaiʻi Foundation, a community-based nonprofit organization founded in 1986 that is dedicated to strengthening the quality of public education in Hawaiʻi.
