Federal solar credit ended Dec 31, 2025
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Solar costs · Hawaii

Solar Panel Cost in Hawaii

Fact-checked by Sorted & Saved data desk
Updated Data verified Nov 5, 2026

A typical Hawaii home uses 495 kWh a month[1] of electricity. Covering that with solar takes a system of about 3.7 kW est.[1,2], which costs roughly $11,500 to $15,500 est.[1,2,3] before incentives at the state's median installed price. With Hawaii's average residential price of 46.41¢ per kWh[4], our model puts payback at about 5 years est.[1,2,3,4,5]. Your quote, roof and utility plan will move these numbers, so treat them as a starting point.

On this page [ 7 ]

Hawaii solar at a glance

Average electricity price46.41¢/kWh[4]Jan–Aug 2026 average (preliminary)
Average home use495 kWh/mo[1]2024 average
Solar output per kW1,622 kWh/yr[2]PVWatts estimate for Honolulu
Median installed price$3.60/W[3]Estimate, before incentives
Typical system3.7 kWSized to cover 100% of use
Typical price$13,300Estimate, before incentives
Year-1 savings$1,800Estimate
Payback5 yearsEstimate, cash purchase

Estimates use the inputs above and the assumptions in our methodology: Hawaiian Electric credits exports from new solar customers at about 13.50¢ per kWh; we use it for Hawaii. Other utilities differ. Prices rise 2.5% a year; panels lose 0.5% a year.

Solar cost in Hawaii by system size

Same assumptions as the typical home above; only the system size changes. Prices are the state median before incentives and include the incentives our calculator applies by default in Hawaii.

SystemPrice before incentives[3]After incentiveskWh in year 1[2]Year-1 savings[4][5]Payback (years)
4 kW$14,400$9,4006,490$1,9405
6 kW$21,600$16,6009,730$2,9206
8 kW$28,800$23,80012,980$3,7106
10 kW$36,000$31,00016,220$4,1407
12 kW$43,200$38,20019,460$4,5808

Incentives that lower the price in Hawaii

Federal · tax creditEnding soon

Business credit for leased and PPA systems (48E)

Claimed by the system owner, not the homeowner; solar must begin construction by July 4, 2026 or be in service by December 31, 2027[6]

If a company owns the panels on your roof (a lease or power purchase agreement), that company may claim the business clean electricity investment credit and can reflect it in your price. You cannot claim it yourself.

Who
Third-party-owned systems (leases and PPAs). Ask the provider whether the price assumes this credit.
Deadline
December 31, 2027
Checked
November 5, 2026
State · tax creditEnding soon

Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit (RETITC)

35% of actual cost, capped at $5,000 per single-family solar PV system; Act 24 (2026) adds eligibility limits, a $40 million annual statewide cap from 2027 and a future sunset (2026 installs protected by Executive Order 26-02)[7]

Hawaii taxpayers who install and place in service a qualifying solar PV system on single-family residential property; Act 24 changes apply to taxable years after December 31, 2026.

Who
Hawaii taxpayers who install and place in service a qualifying solar PV system on single-family residential property; Act 24 changes apply to taxable years after December 31, 2026.
Maximum
$5,000
Deadline
None set in the source
Checked
November 5, 2026

All Hawaii incentives, including utility and local programs →

How Hawaii utilities credit your solar

Net energy metering is closed to new customers; Hawaiian Electric customers now use the PUC's Smart DER Tariff, either a Non-Export option or an Export Rider paying time-varying export rates (highest 5-9 p.m., lowest 9 a.m.-5 p.m.). Earlier programs like Customer Grid-Supply Plus closed in 2024.[8]

We have not added every Hawaii utility yet, so the estimates on this page use the state-level rule: Hawaiian Electric credits exports from new solar customers at about 13.50¢ per kWh; we use it for Hawaii. Other utilities differ.[5]

Full Hawaii net metering and export-credit rules →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much do solar panels cost in Hawaii?

At the state median installed price of $3.60 per watt est.[3], a 3.7 kW est.[1,2] system that covers a typical home's use costs about $13,300 est.[1,2,3] before incentives. Quotes vary with roof, equipment and installer.

How long does solar take to pay for itself in Hawaii?

For a cash purchase at the state's average electricity price of 46.41¢ per kWh[4], our model estimates about 5 years est.[1,2,3,4,5]. Your utility's export credit and rate plan matter a lot; see the export-credit table above.

Is there still a federal solar tax credit?

Not for homeowners who buy. The Federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D)[9] does not apply to systems whose installation is completed after December 31, 2025. Leased and PPA systems are different: the company that owns the system may still claim a business credit.

sources

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Every number on this page links to one of these sources. Dates show when we last checked each one.

  1. EIA Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price 2024, Table 5A: Residential average monthly bill by stateeia.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  2. NREL/NLR PVWatts v8 (1 kW-DC, fixed roof mount, 20° tilt, south-facing, 14% losses, TMY weather)pvwatts.nlr.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  3. U.S. Distributed Solar and Storage 2026 Data Update (Barbose, Darghouth, O'Shaughnessy, Forrester), Berkeley Labeta-publications.lbl.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  4. EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B: Average price of electricity by state, year-to-date (August 2026, preliminary)eia.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  5. Hawaiian Electric Rule No. 32 Smart Renewable Energy Program, Export Rider, Sheet No. 49.40-Hhawaiianelectric.com · checked Nov 5, 2026
  6. Public Law 119-21 - Sec. 70513(a) and (g)(5) (48E); Sec. 70512(a) and (l)(4) (45Y)govinfo.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  7. Haw. Code R. 18-235-12.5-03 - Other Solar Energy Systems (Hawaii Administrative Rules, via Cornell LII)law.cornell.edu · checked Nov 5, 2026
  8. Hawaii PUC - DPS Phase 3 Decision and Order Summarypuc.hawaii.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  9. IRS FS-2025-05: FAQs for modification of sections 25C, 25D, 25E, 30C, 30D, 45L, 45W, and 179D under Public Law 119-21 (OBBB)irs.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026

State data last re-checked November 5, 2026.

Change log

  1. Monthly output per kW in Honolulu updated to [125.7, 114.4, 139.8, 137.5, 140.7, 144.3, 150.5, 151.8, 148.3, 135.8, 116.2, 116.6] kWh/kW/month (NREL/NLR PVWatts v8 (1 kW-DC, fixed roof mount, 20° tilt, south-facing, 14% losses, TMY weather)).
  2. Average solar radiation on the panels in Honolulu updated to 5.82 kWh/m2/day (NREL/NLR PVWatts v8 (1 kW-DC, fixed roof mount, 20° tilt, south-facing, 14% losses, TMY weather)).
  3. Solar output per kW in Hawaii (PVWatts, Honolulu) updated to 1621.6 kWh/kW/yr (NREL/NLR PVWatts v8 (1 kW-DC, fixed roof mount, 20° tilt, south-facing, 14% losses, TMY weather)).
  4. Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit (RETITC): now "35% of actual cost, capped at $5,000 per single-family solar PV system; Act 24 (2026) adds eligibility limits, a $40 million annual statewide cap from 2027 and a future sunset (2026 installs protected by Executive Order 26-02)" (ending).