New episodes of the KHON2 podcast "What's the Law," hosted by Coralie Chun Matayoshi, are coming soon. This morning, Matayoshi provided a preview of the next two episodes on Living808.
With hurricane season upon us, home and condo owners are facing skyrocketing insurance premiums and deductibles. This increase is attributed to catastrophic disasters and losses nationwide, leading insurance companies to pay up to 50% more for reinsurance, which in turn raises consumer premiums. In Hawaii, aging plumbing in older condos has led to significant water damage claims, causing master policies to rise by over 200%. The high cost and limited availability of hurricane insurance are creating serious issues for condo owners, with many associations unable to afford full replacement coverage. Consequently, buyers are struggling to secure loans, and sellers are limited to cash buyers, a situation exacerbated by the recent Maui wildfires.
Despite numerous legislative efforts this past session to address the insurance crisis, no bills were passed. Proposals included funding for insurers of last resort, similar to measures taken after Hurricane Iniki and the Kilauea lava eruption, with hopes that the Hurricane Relief Fund might be utilized.
The podcast will also discuss the rise in e-bike crashes. Kids aged 15 and older can legally ride e-bikes, defined as low-speed electric bicycles under 20 mph. However, many accidents involve faster electric dirt bikes or motorcycles. While no license or insurance is required for e-bikes, registration and helmets for riders under 16 are mandatory, and nighttime riding requires lights and reflectors.
Coralie also shared that E-bikes are allowed in bike lanes and roadways, but not on freeways. They can be ridden on neighborhood sidewalks at speeds under 10 mph but are prohibited on business district sidewalks.
Upcoming podcast episodes will also explore why Keith Kaneshiro, Dennis Mitsunaga, and his associates were found not guilty, as well as new rights for copyright owners. For more information, visit http://KHON2.com.
