Solar in Hawaii: is it worth it in 2026?
Hawaii is one of the best places in the country to own solar. Three things decide that: electricity here is among the most expensive in the country (1st of 51), it gets more sun than most states (5th), and exported power earns much less than the retail rate. Of the 51 states and DC, Hawaii has the 3rd-fastest payback for a typical home.
The average home here pays about $208 a month for 515 kWh. A 3.5 kW system sized for that home would knock about $1,330 off the first year's bills, 53% of the total.
Checked November 12, 2026
What makes solar pay off in Hawaii
- Size the system to what you use during the day, not to your whole year: extra power sent to the grid earns about 30% of the retail rate. A battery, or running the dishwasher, laundry and EV charging while the sun is up, raises the value of every panel.
- High electricity prices do the heavy lifting. At 40.4¢ per kWh, even a modest system saves real money, but the price still matters. At $3.34 per watt, the high end of what companies quote, payback for a typical system here stretches to 9 years.
- Lots of sun. Each kW of panels makes about 1,622 kWh a year here, so a smaller system covers more of your bill than in most states.
Payback by system size
An average Hawaii home uses about 6,180 kWh a year. Here's how systems sized to cover part or all of that work out, bought with cash at $2.57 per watt:
| Covers | Size | Price | Makes a year | Payback | 25-year savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52% | 2 kW | $5,140 | 3,244 kWh | 7 years | $16,544 |
| 79% | 3 kW | $7,710 | 4,866 kWh | 7 years | $26,129 |
| 105% | 4 kW | $10,280 | 6,488 kWh | 7 years | $35,478 |
| 131% | 5 kW | $12,850 | 8,110 kWh | 8 years | $38,864 |
The 2 kW system pays back fastest, but the 5 kW system saves the most over 25 years, though only if the extra power is used at home. Assumes exported power earns about 30% of the retail rate, prices rise 2.5% a year and one inverter replacement.
How Hawaii credits power you send to the grid
Reduced credit (net billing)
No retail net metering for new systems: self-supply and smart export programs pay far less than Hawaii's high retail rates. Most new systems include a battery.
We haven't found a single published export rate for Hawaii, so the calculators assume about 30% of the retail rate. Ask your utility for its rate and enter it.
By utility
- Hawaiian Electric: Smart Renewable Energy Export credits by time of day: on Oahu 13.5 cents (9 a.m.–5 p.m.), 32.9 cents (5–9 p.m.) and 18.9 cents overnight, for 2024–2026. Other islands differ.
Before you sign in Hawaii
Check the license. Look the company up with the Hawaii Professional and Vocational Licensing (DCCA), by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license number too.
Hawaii has no solar-specific sales law that we know of, so its general consumer protection law applies.
In every state, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule lets you cancel a contract signed at your home until midnight of the third business day.
How to choose a solar company · Contract checklist · Before you sign
Hawaii compared with its neighbors
| State | Electricity | kWh per kW | Typical payback | Exported power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 40.4¢ | 1,622 | 7 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| California | 31.4¢ | 1,677 | 10 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Massachusetts | 30.4¢ | 1,302 | 7 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | 1,294 | 8 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Connecticut | 29.3¢ | 1,291 | 8 years | Full credit (net metering) |
Questions about solar in Hawaii
How long does solar take to pay for itself in Hawaii?
About 7 years for a typical 3.5 kW system bought with cash at the 2026 median price of $2.57 per watt, with no federal tax credit and one inverter replacement. A bigger or smaller system, a different price, or your own usage will change that; the table above shows other sizes.
Does Hawaii have net metering?
Not full net metering. No retail net metering for new systems: self-supply and smart export programs pay far less than Hawaii's high retail rates. Most new systems include a battery.
Is there a solar tax credit in Hawaii in 2026?
Not from the federal government for buyers: the 30% homeowner credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. For a typical 3.5 kW system in Hawaii, that credit was worth about $2,699 and brought payback down to 5 years, instead of 7 years now. Leasing companies can still claim a business credit, so ask for a lease or PPA price too. Your state energy office lists any state rebates.
Is a solar battery worth it in Hawaii?
On bill savings alone, not quite: a 13.5 kWh battery at about $15,650 would move about 3,066 kWh of solar power a year from the grid to your evenings in a typical Hawaii home, adding about $14,078 of savings over 15 years. That doesn't cover its price, so the system's payback goes from 7 years to 11 years; the rest is paying for backup during outages. Time-of-use rates, battery rebates and utility payments for sharing your battery can tip it; try your numbers in the payback calculator.
Is plug-in solar legal in Hawaii?
There's no plug-in solar law yet in Hawaii, so your utility may treat a kit like any rooftop system.
How do I check a solar company's license in Hawaii?
Look the company up with the Hawaii Professional and Vocational Licensing (DCCA) (cca.hawaii.gov/pvl) by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license too.
More guides: What changed for solar in 2026 · Lease or buy? · Plug-in solar · Is my solar system working?
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), final 2025 data: Annual State Historical Spreadsheets (Form EIA-861, released October 7, 2026) and Electric Power Annual (October 21, 2026); NREL PVWatts (National Solar Radiation Database), statewide averages; Clean Energy Calc: how net metering works in 2026; Hawaiian Electric: Smart Renewable Energy Export; EnergySage: median quoted price, first half of 2026.