Top 7 Best Solar Companies in Hawaii (2024 Reviews)

Tesla manufactures some of the most appealing solar batteries in the industry, which are sure to serve Hawaiians and help them maximize their solar savings over time.

Tesla sometimes struggles with customer service, but we still think it’s an option worth considering for the advanced tech you get.

Why We Chose Tesla as the Company With the Best Technology

Tesla manufactures the Tesla Powerwall, the most sought-after solar battery in the solar industry. High-efficiency solar batteries are very popular in Hawaii because of the lack of a statewide net metering policy, and the Powerwall is the ideal option for maximizing savings and maintaining electricity through the frequent power outages, in our opinion.

The Powerwall comes with some great features, too, like the ability to manage how your stored energy is allocated from your phone. This is a great option to have in a place like Hawaii, where storing enough energy to last through blackouts and using enough to offset your well-above-average energy bills is a delicate balance.

Tesla also installs one of the most popular EV chargers. With EVs becoming more and more popular as the State of Hawaii works toward its ambitious renewable portfolio standard (RPS) goal, these will be an increasingly popular option among solar customers.

What We Don’t Like

The biggest downside to Tesla, as we see it, is that the company outsources all of its installations to third-party companies. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean that Tesla itself has less control over your installation than an in-house installer would, which means customer service can be spotty, depending on the company assigned to your solar project.

Additionally, Tesla only installs a single brand of panels and its own brand of other products, including batteries and EV chargers. These do have outstanding quality and performance, but we’d like to see some other options for customization and to appeal to different customers.

Read our full review of Tesla for more information.

Solar Products

Tesla used to manufacture its own panels but has since started working exclusively with QCells. QCells from Hanwha is a great tier-one brand that delivers durability and longevity, and they have a high enough efficiency rating — up to 21.4% — to produce sufficient energy to offset your high electric bills in Hawaii.

QCells also averages around $2.75 per watt, whereas most direct competitors with similar efficiency ratings average around $3.00 per watt. These can help you keep costs down, which is helpful in an area like HI that has high equipment costs.

Below are some other products and services you can get through Tesla:

• Tesla solar roof
• Tesla Powerwalls
• Tesla EV charger
• The Tesla solar monitoring app

Financing Options

Tesla accepts cash, solar loans, solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs) as payment for its services. A cash purchase is going to be your best option overall for savings in the long run, and it’s more accessible in Hawaii than in most states, thanks to the small system size requirements in the area.

A loan is our next most recommended option, followed by a lease and, finally, a PPA. Leases and PPAs don’t let you take the federal credit and deliver lower savings overall, but they are highly accessible.

Warranty Information

Tesla’s panels come with a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty plus a 25-year production guarantee. The former is in line with what’s average in the industry, and the latter is a little longer than average.

Tesla also includes a ten-year warranty for its workmanship, which is average. We do wish this was a little longer since the above-average annual rainfall in the Aloha State can put improperly installed systems at greater risk of damage and leaking. Still, we can’t complain much since ten years is the average in the solar industry.

Click here for a free quote from Tesla.

Malama Solar provides a great array of products and couples those with incredible customer service, making it the best regional installer, in our opinion.

Malama has a limited service area and is a relatively young company, but we think it already has a great reputation for excellent service and customer care.

Why We Chose Malama Solar as the Best Regional Installer

“Malama” translates to “to take care,” so it’s no surprise that customer service is at the forefront of every Malama Solar installation. The company maintains a 4.9-star rating on Google Reviews and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Customers also rave about how communicative, professional and friendly the representatives are.

Malama installs a handful of tier-one brands that are suitable for sufficient energy generation in Hawaii, and it employs a team of experienced installation technicians to install them. Many of those installers are certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), meaning the installation crew is highly trained and exhibits expertise.

Additionally, Malama is a Hawaii-based family-owned business, so you can feel good about hiring the provider to handle your solar project. The local expertise also means the reps are willing and able to help you take full advantage of Hawaii’s solar incentives, which could help you save some money.

What We Don’t Like

Currently, Malama only serves Oahu and Big Island, although it is working on expanding. For right now, though, the service area is limited, so you might not be able to get a system installed by the company, depending on where you live.

Additionally, Malama was founded in 2017, so it has less than a decade of experience. We prefer companies with at least ten years of experience, especially in high-demand areas like Hawaii, where a lot of sub-par companies pop up to take advantage and maximize profit. We don’t believe Malama is one of those companies, but we’d still prefer more experience under its belt.

Solar Products

Malama installs panels from Panasonic, QCells and SolarEdge. These are all excellent options for Hawaiians, and we feel they provide a good range from affordable to premium and moderate efficiency to high efficiency.

If you want to minimize your upfront installation costs, we suggest you choose the SolarEdge panels. These panels have the lowest cost per watt and still perform well. If you want maximum energy production — whether you have a small roof and can only fit a few panels or you want the best chance of eliminating your electric bills — we recommend the Panasonic panels, which have efficiency ratings of up to 22.3%.

Below are some other products and services you can get access to via Malama:

• Tesla Powerwalls
• Generac solar batteries
• The Tesla and Enphase solar monitoring apps

Financing Options

Malama Solar only accepts cash and solar loans, so you’ll be limited to the higher-cost options. However, these are the only options we typically recommend, so we think as long as you can afford one of these, this is a pro rather than a con.

Of the two options, we recommend cash. A cash purchase is going to save you an average of around $49,500 after the panels pay for themselves, whereas a loan will likely save closer to $44,000. These are still impressive savings, but cash is just a little bit more impressive.

Warranty Information

Malama Solar provides the same warranty coverage as Tesla: 25 years for the equipment and efficiency and ten years for the workmanship.

The ten-year labor warranty is average, but we would like to see lengthier coverage. Since Hawaii does see heavy rainfall in some areas, roof leaks are more of a risk than they are in most other states, and an improperly installed system increases that risk even more. We will say that the company’s NABCEP-certified techs help reduce that risk, though.

Click here for a free quote from Malama Solar.

Independent Energy Hawaii can’t be beaten when it comes to customer service. The representatives are all super friendly and helpful and take an educational approach to solar sales.

This is a young provider with no formal workmanship warranty, but we feel the company is still worth considering, given its local expertise.

Why We Chose Independent Energy Hawaii as the Best for Customer Service

Independent Energy Hawaii is a local company based right in Honolulu, and it provides that small-company feel you can only get from a local operation. The company’s representatives and technicians are all incredibly friendly, approachable and professional, and the service they provide is second to none. This is a big reason the provider maintains an unprecedented 5-star rating on Google Reviews and on the BBB’s website.

With locally-trained technicians that deliver high-quality service, you can also expect them to help you navigate the solar incentives and rebates available in your area. They work regularly with different municipalities and utility companies, so they’re always up to date on the best way to help you save money using tax incentives and other perks.

Many of the company’s technicians are also NABCEP-certified, so you get great service, local experience and unmatched expertise all in one package.

What We Don’t Like

The biggest downside to working with Independent Energy Hawaii, in our opinion, is that the company doesn’t offer a formal workmanship warranty. We do believe the company’s local expertise speaks for itself, but in a relatively high-risk area like Hawaii, we’d love to see a solid warranty to keep your system and home adequately protected.

Additionally, this company was founded in 2019, making it the youngest company on our list. We prefer companies with at least a decade of experience that have established some longevity, but we also think the company’s upsides make it one that’s worth considering.

Solar Products

Independent Energy Hawaii works mostly with REC panels which are tier-one monocrystalline panels. However, it can get access to other brands if you’re looking to optimize for a lower installation cost.

REC panels have an above-average efficiency and exhibit excellent durability, so we think it’s a great brand to consider in Hawaii. They are a little on the expensive side, though.

In addition to REC panels, the following products and services are available through Independent Energy Hawaii:

• Tesla Powerwalls
• Generac solar batteries
• Enphase IQ batteries
• The Tesla and Enphase solar monitoring apps
• JuiceBox EV chargers
• Smart home devices
• Commercial solar projects

Financing Options

Like many smaller local companies, Independent Energy Hawaii only accepts cash purchases and solar loans. We do prefer installers that accept more options for accessibility, but in an area like Hawaii, where system costs are nearly $10,000 lower than the national average before incentives, these “less accessible” options are still quite realistic for most homeowners.

We suggest a cash purchase to maximize your solar savings over time, but a loan is also an excellent option that will still save you a significant amount of money on your utility bills.

Warranty Information

Independent Energy Hawaii’s panels come with a 25-year warranty for manufacturer defects and a 25-year power production guarantee. The equipment warranty is average, and the production warranty is a little better than most other companies provide.

Unfortunately, there is no workmanship warranty, which is a pretty significant downside, in our opinion. The industry average is ten years for labor, but we ideally like to see even longer than that in rainy states like Hawaii.

Click here for a free quote from Independent Energy Hawaii.

RevoluSun Hawaii has a massive array of products and services to offer, providing you with lots of system customization options and an opportunity to boost your home’s efficiency.

The company struggles with customer service in some cases, but we feel it’s still a decent option overall.

Why We Chose RevoluSun Hawaii as the Best for System Customization

The biggest upside to choosing RevoluSun Hawaii, in our opinion, is the number of services you get access to that can boost your home’s energy efficiency and save you money. While most other providers focus on solar panels and batteries, RevoluSun also offers air conditioning installations, smart home devices and solar water heaters. These services can be combined to maximize savings and reduce your carbon footprint even more.

The company also carries a handful of panel brands to let you customize your PV system, including Maxeon panels, which are some of the best in the industry.

RevoluSun’s warranty coverage is another feather in its cap. You get the standard 25 years of protection for your equipment and energy production, but you also get a 20-year roof leak warranty. This is outstanding in a place like Hawaii, where the rainfall is above average and increases the risk of leaking.

What We Don’t Like

RevoluSun Hawaii struggles with customer service in some cases. Some customers have mentioned a lack of communication throughout their installation process, and some even note that the company has backed out of agreed-upon projects. The company isn’t terribly large, so it’s unclear why it struggles to provide high-quality service.

RevoluSun Hawaii is also a little on the expensive side, so the cost of some of its services is a drawback. We do think the quality of the equipment you get is excellent, though, and is worth the investment.

Solar Products

RevoluSun installs panels from SunPower/Maxeon, Solaria, Silfab and SolarEdge. These are excellent options to choose from that run the gamut from affordable to premium and deliver varying efficiency levels within the price range.

We suggest the Maxeon panels overall for peak efficiency ratings — up to an industry-leading 22.8% — but these will drive up your installation costs the most. If you want to save money on your installation and still want good quality, the SolarEdge panels will likely suit you best.

Financing Options

RevoluSun Hawaii is one of the very few local companies that accepts cash, solar loans and solar leases, and it claims to be the only local company that entertains solar leases.

We suggest going with a cash purchase or a loan through the third-party financiers with which the company works. However, a lease is a decent low-cost option with no down payment requirements and few, if any, payments over time. Leases save you less in the long run, though, and they don’t let you take the federal tax credit.

Warranty Information

RevoluSun Hawaii’s panels come with the standard 25-year equipment warranty plus a slightly better-than-average 25-year production warranty.

These are both great to have, but what we really love is the 20-year roof leak guarantee the company offers. Since Hawaii sees a lot of rainfall each year, this warranty package assures that you’ll avoid equipment and property damage. Since your panels will pay for themselves in an average of six years, that’s 14 years of guaranteed system performance where you can profit from net energy savings.

Click here for a free quote from RevoluSun Hawaii.

Eco Solar is a certified Master SunPower Dealer with over 15 years of local experience. It’s highly trusted and reputable, making it the best local option, in our opinion.

The company is quite expensive, but we feel that the quality of the equipment is unmatched and well worth the money.

Why We Chose Eco Solar as the Best Local Installer

Eco Solar has been in business since 2008, so it has 15 years of experience working exclusively in Hawaii. Not only are the technicians aware of the specific energy needs of homeowners in your area, but they’re also experts when it comes to solar incentives. They can help you file for local tax credits and incentives to bring down the effective cost of your system.

Eco Solar only works with Maxeon panels, which have the highest efficiency and the best performance specifications in the industry. We recommend these panels above any others in Hawaii, as they will all but guarantee you offset your energy bills and tend to last longer than most other brands.

As a small local company, Eco Solar is also able to maintain a focus on quality customer service. As evidence of its propensity for constant communication and customer care, it has a stellar 4.7-star rating on Google Reviews.

What We Don’t Like

Since Eco Solar only works with Maxeon panels, which are some of the most expensive in the industry, the overall cost of going solar with this provider is above average. This isn’t a huge drawback since the smaller system size in Hawaii begets one of the lowest total installation costs in the country, but it’s still something to consider.

Other than the price, the only downside is the limited service area. Eco Solar only serves the island of Oahu, so many Hawaiians won’t be able to choose this provider.

Solar Products

As a SunPower-exclusive dealer, Eco Solar only installs Maxeon panels. These are what we consider the best in the industry, and the high efficiency rating is likely to maximize your energy production and the savings you see on your utility bills.

With that being said, though, we do prefer installers that carry a few different brands, as a variety is more likely to accommodate individual needs, especially in the way of keeping installation costs down.

In addition to Maxeon panels, Eco Solar provides access to the following products and services:

• SunPower SunVault (previously called the Equinox battery system)
• Tesla Powerwalls
• The MySunPower and Tesla solar monitoring apps

Financing Options

Since Eco Solar is backed by SunPower, it accepts the same payment options: cash, loans, leases and PPAs. These are all of the major ways to pay for solar panels, making it one of the most accessible installers in the state.

We suggest a cash purchase if you can make it work, which is less likely with a more expensive company like Eco Solar. A loan is our other preferred payment option. Leases and PPAs are great to have as low-cost options for those who can’t make a cash purchase work or qualify for a loan, but we don’t recommend them in general.

Warranty Information

As a SunPower dealer, Eco Solar is able to provide the outstanding warranty coverage you’d get from SunPower itself. That includes 25 years of coverage for your equipment, a 25-year power production guarantee and a 25-year labor guarantee.

This is one of the most appealing warranty packages in the industry, let alone Hawaii. Specifically, the labor warranty helps protect your system from the above-average rainfall in the area and any damage that might occur as a result.

Click here for a free quote from Eco Solar.

Rising Sun Solar has been serving Hawaii since 1986, so it has over three decades of local experience and expertise behind its services.

The company only offers a five-year labor warranty, which isn’t ideal, and it has limited financing options. However, we still feel it’s an excellent option overall.

Why We Chose Rising Sun Solar as the Company With the Most Local Experience

Solar is massively beneficial in Hawaii, but the local solar industry is really just starting to pick up. With the recent bump in demand, a good portion of the providers that service the area are younger. That is not the case with Rising Sun Solar, which has two decades of experience.

Not only does the company have some serious longevity behind it, but its technicians are also locally experienced and trained. They fully understand the specific local energy needs of Hawaii residents, and they can help you file for as many incentive programs as are available in the area.

In addition to local experience, the company holds certifications from several important organizations, like the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). These certifications help ensure a professional installation that will last and continue saving you money for years to come.

What We Don’t Like

One pretty major drawback to Rising Sun is that the workmanship warranty only lasts for five years. This is only half of the industry average, and it’s about a third of what we’d ideally like to see in a higher-risk area like Hawaii.

Aside from the workmanship warranty, though, there’s not much we can say about Rising Sun that isn’t positive.

Solar Products

When you go solar with Rising Sun, you get access to Maxeon and QCells panels, which are two of our most highly recommended brands for home solar systems.

The Maxeon panels are the way to go, in our opinion, as they deliver above-average energy production that will help insulate you from having to pay massive retail prices for power. The QCells panels are significantly more affordable, though, and they still deliver great efficiency and durability.

In addition to these panels, you can also get the following products and services from Rising Sun Solar:

• SunVault solar batteries
• Tesla Powerwalls
• Generac solar batteries
• Tesla solar roof
• The MySunPower, Tesla and Enphase solar monitoring mobile apps

Financing Options

Like most local companies, Rising Sun Solar only accepts cash payments and solar loans. Paying in cash will lead to the shortest panel payback period and the greatest energy savings over time. However, it’s far less accessible than a loan because you have to pay the entire system price upfront.

A loan will include interest that extends your payback period and reduces your savings over time a bit, but we still think it’s a worthwhile option. Plus, it’s far more accessible, as most have no down payment requirements.

Warranty Information

Rising Sun Solar includes the standard 25-year equipment warranty with its panels and a 25-year production guarantee that’s a little better than what you’d find from most competitors.

Unfortunately, the labor warranty only lasts for five years, which is half as long as most companies offer. In an area like Hawaii, where above-average rain can put rooftop systems at increased risk of damage, we’d really like to see above-average workmanship warranty coverage.

Click here for a free quote from Rising Sun Solar.