Is Solar Worth It in Hawaii? (2026)

Hawaii may be the best solar economics in the country — the highest electricity rates in the US meet abundant sun. The catch is that grid rules have changed, so solar in Hawaii almost always means solar plus a battery. Here’s the honest take.

The Hawaii basics

• Electricity rate: the highest in the nation, around 42¢/kWh — roughly triple the mainland average. Every kWh of solar saves a lot.
• Sun: excellent — roughly 5.8 peak sun hours/day.
• With those numbers, solar is compelling — but how you connect to the grid matters more than anywhere.

See a worked example on our Hawaii solar cost page or the Solar Savings Calculator.

Why batteries are usually essential in Hawaii

Hawaii’s grid reached high solar penetration years ago, so traditional net metering was phased out. Newer programs emphasize self-supply and storage rather than exporting to the grid. In practice that means:

• A home battery to store daytime solar for evening use is usually needed to capture the value.
• Solar without storage exports little value under current programs.

Understand the mechanics in what is net metering.

When solar is worth it in Hawaii

• Almost always, if you pair panels with a battery — the extremely high rates make payback fast.
• You have a sunny, unshaded roof.
• You own the system for the federal tax credit.

When to be cautious

• Solar without storage under current Hawaii programs gives weak returns.
• Roof shading or space limits for both panels and a battery.

Bottom line

With the nation’s highest rates and strong sun, Hawaii offers some of the best solar returns anywhere — but plan for solar + storage, not panels alone. Model it with the Solar Savings Calculator and size backup with the Battery Size Calculator.

Educational estimates only. Confirm current HECO programs and incentives.