THE CONDO INSURANCE CHALLENGE: Updates & Potential Solutions

Representative Scott K. Saiki currently serves as the representative for House District 25, which includes portions of Ala Moana, Kakaʻako, and Downtown Honolulu.

Representative Saiki was born in Honolulu and grew up in Kailua, HI. Saiki earned his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and his J.D. from the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law. During his time at UH, Saiki won his first election to serve on the Campus Center Board for the University of Hawaiʻi. In 1994, Saiki was first elected to the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives.

Since the 2018 legislative session, Saiki has taken on the leadership role as Speaker of the House. Prior to being elected House Speaker by his peers, Representative Saiki served as the House Majority Leader from 2013 to 2017, where he passed legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2013, passed a first-in-nation law in 2015 that requires Hawaiʻi’s utilities to generate 100% of their electric sales from renewable energy source by 2045, and introduced legislation in 2019 that created Hawaiʻi’s statewide system of mail-in voting.

In August 2019, Representative Saiki became the 48th President of the National Conference of State Legislatures; a bipartisan organization serving the nation's 7,383 state lawmakers and legislative staff.

In the 2024 legislative session, Representative Saiki introduced House Bill 2686 and House Bill 2801 to address financial relief for residents by amending laws related to the Hawaiʻi Hurricane Relief Fund and Hawaiʻi Property Insurance Association, as well as allowing condominiums to be eligible for commercial property assessed financing. These initiatives aim to stabilize the housing market and reduce the financial burden for property owners and tenants while exploring alternative financing options.

In addition to serving as a State Representative, Saiki is a practicing attorney, specializing in disability law.

Nolan Kawano is the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Tradewind Group, a local owned multi platform holding company with subsidiaries in insurance – Island Insurance, IC International, Atlas Insurance Agency, and Pyramid Insurance Centre – and private equity and real estate – Tradewind Capital and Pacxa.

Mr. Kawano has a financial background starting with Bank of Hawaii and KPMG where he specialized in servicing the local insurance industry. His thirty plus year career in insurance has taken him from the Executive Director of the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to the Chief Financial Officer for both First Insurance and Island Insurance as well as the President for IC International and Pyramid Insurance Centre.

His community engagement has focused primarily on education. He has served on the Board of Education, several non-profit education organizations, and is today a Trustee for the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation and a board member of Hawaii 3Rs.

Alex McLaury, originally hailing from South Dakota, ventured to Oahu to pursue his education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he subsequently delved into the insurance industry. Specializing in Association of Apartment Owners (AOAOs), Alex has become a go-to resource for Boards of Directors and Property Managers, offering trusted guidance in navigating the complex landscape of insurance, particularly concerning underinsured buildings. Beyond his professional commitments, he finds solace and adventure in the ocean, indulging in activities like free diving, spearfishing, and paddling, which embody his appreciation for Hawaii's coastal beauty.